NEWS
Honeywell partners with Microsoft to support mobile workers through software H
oneywell (Nasdaq: HON) announced today a new integration with Microsoft to help highly mobile workers by providing a set of digital tools enabling enhanced communication and collaboration, all on one platform.
Users of select Honeywell mobile computers in the warehousing, logistics, healthcare and retail fields can download the popular and optimised Microsoft Teams for frontline workers application. Through Teams, workers can turn Honeywell devices into a walkie talkie with a dedicated button. This push-to- talk solution enables clear, instant and secure voice communication over the cloud, allowing employees to better serve customers or patients on demand. “A customer- or patient-centric approach can be improved through technology-led productivity and mobility solutions,” said Karen Bomber, senior director of Marketing at Honeywell Productivity Solutions and
LOBO Systems Is Now Approved For Use In Over 120 Amazon Locations
he British firm with the world’s most sophisticated scaffolding system has won more than £6m in orders from e-commerce giant Amazon.
T
Amazon purchased several LOBO starter kits for a location in Los Angeles as a trial to prove effectiveness, resulting in 47 sites now using the LOBO System and approval for a further 120 sites. In addition, all new Amazon distribution centres will have a LOBO System on their must- have Bill of Materials list.
The 2-year onboarding process comprised OSHA compliance verification and approval by a global engineering group is now completed. Amazon stated: “ We have already saved thousands of dollars on scaffolding costs by using the LOBO System.”
As LOBO is modular, with no tools assembly, Amazon engineers use LOBO to access awkward areas above and around their conveyor units, which are in constant use, so a high priority. Outsourced contractor scaffolding costs can be substantially reduced, as maintenance teams can assemble the system anywhere required. Robert Bokros, LOBO Systems inventor & CEO, explained: “The LOBO Advanced Platform System has revolutionized the way industry works safely at height. Evidence from satisfied users illustrates incredible cuts in scaffolding costs, reduced downtime whilst waiting for it to arrive and be erected and less reliance on outside scaffolding contractors. In most cases, the payback time for LOBO is measured in months compared to conventional scaffolding. On our website we identify these savings from actual case histories.”
Services. “As mobile workers are being challenged to know more at a moment’s notice than ever before, the combination of Honeywell’s rugged, versatile mobile computers with Microsoft Teams gives workers access to the answers they need by connecting with each other to coordinate the right outcomes.” Despite their essential role in every industry, mobile workers have been traditionally underserved by technology. According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index,[1] 46 percent of frontline workers reported they value tech tools over mental health and wellness benefits at their job to help reduce work-related stress, just behind better pay and vacation time. Empowering them with the right technology makes their job easier and allows efficient collaboration between coworkers.
“We’re thrilled to add Honeywell to our purpose- built devices integrated with Microsoft Teams,” said
Kristina Behr, Vice President of Product, Frontline and Workflows at Microsoft. “Frontline workers are the backbone of many organisations, and this solution empowers the frontline workforce to deliver agility in responsiveness and optimise productivity, all on a single, secure enterprise platform.” The addition of Microsoft Teams for frontline workers to Honeywell’s software ecosystem allows employees to communicate and collaborate with each other effectively using one powerful mobile computer without the need to carry separate bulky radios. Honeywell Productivity Solutions and Services develops and deploys an innovative range of solutions, software and services that help keep workers and workplaces safer and more productive, and supply chains and assets more efficient, accurate and reliable. For more information, visit sps.
honeywell.com.
New machinery helps worktop manufacturer apply the perfect finish
A
fter receiving technical support and funding from the £10.9 million Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (SAM) Project, Nostalgia Work Surfaces (NWS) was able to use state-of-the-art FlexSim software to help validate that they had the space required to install the new equipment required to achieve its future plans. The firm had long considered investing in a new CNC saw to help improve its product quality and reduce lead-times, however the investment was substantial to elevate the cutting capability from traditional into the digital interface of next generation CNC machinery. The support from SAM - which included an expert workshop on manufacturing management techniques and one- to-one support from a simulation specialist – meant NWS could use state of the art 3D simulation software to identify where the equipment would fit within its setup and avoid any installation pitfalls. A grant also supported the purchase of a new CNC saw, which has significantly cut costs for the company and reduced its carbon footprint since its installation in July 2022, as well as being faster, more versatile plus reducing off- cuts and waste.
Alan Taylor, managing director at Nostalgia Work Surfaces, said: “We are really pleased with the impact the new CNC saw has had on the business. It has not only increased productivity, standards and reduced waste but it has also given the workforce a greater sense of pride, lifting their standards and attitudes to a new level.” He added: “We couldn’t have done it without SAM. One of the key inhibitors to growth we’ve witnessed has been the inability to move our workshop around without impacting upon production and their support has been key to helping us overcome this challenge Prior to speaking to the team, we would never have even thought of using simulation software as a means of re-designing our workspace and figuring out how to improve our processes. It would’ve just seemed like
an alien concept. The grant also went a long-way to helping us purchase the machinery we needed. We really can’t recommend the support enough.” Nostalgia Work Surfaces currently employs 13 people at its Swan Industrial Estate site, however Alan is confident that – despite the many challenges currently facing the nation’s manufacturers – the company’s recent investment will allow it to continue creating jobs as it looks to the future.
“Because of the ability of the machine, we are now able to take on more complex work, angles and curves, resulting in the manufacture of more complex products which would not have otherwise been possible,” he said. Looking forward, we hope this will not only allow us to introduce new product ranges and improve quality, but also create more jobs as we continue to innovate and grow.”
The Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (SAM) Project is a £10.9m collaboration between the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the University of Sunderland and the Northern Powerhouse Initiative and Industry, supporting SME manufacturers in the North-East Local Enterprise Partnership (NE LEP) area to improve their products or processes and introduce new technology. Roger O’Brien, Project & Technical Lead at the SAM Project, said: “It’s been fantastic working with Alan and the team on this project and seeing how the latest simulation technology can help businesses such as NWS break down their barriers to growth. Over the past few years, we’ve helped hundreds of companies just like Nostalgia explore how the latest industrial technologies can help them innovate and we’d recommend any SME in the region which manufacturers – or has plans to manufacture – to get in touch while the support is available.” To find out more about SAM, visit www.
samprojectuos.co.uk or contact:
sam.project@
sunderland.ac.uk
FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | OCTOBER 2022 5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58
