Tips & Tricks: the Gotcha Stick and Machine Guarding Safety
Getting employees to follow the rules, even rules that keep them safe, is difficult. For some segments of the population is seems impossible. Everyone knows, for example, that talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous, and against the law in most states. But a large percentage of the population continue to talk on a handheld phone while driving anyway. This is even more true of texting and driving. And accidents and deaths continue.
The Pasta Process: Mass Manufacturing in Food and Beverages
If you’ve ever visited Rochester, NY – the home of Re:Build Optimation – you likely know that some of the best Italian Food outside of New York City is found right here. From Mr. Dominic’s to Antoinetta’s for a business lunch, or to Ronconne’s and The Northside Inn, Rochesterians know what good pasta is because we have it often. Even then, the best pasta is often the one placed under the 3-day stewed red sauce (gravy if you’re really old school) made by your spouse with love and great care. Ironically, what’s under that sauce is likely store-bought pasta that was mass manufactured. And, since we’re all about manufacturing, we totally have to talk about it!
Cellulosic Ethanol Fuels The Future (A Comparison To Traditional Ethanol Production)
In today’s world, the demand for sustainable fuel options is higher than ever before. As we face mounting concerns over climate change, rising fuel costs, and dwindling natural resources, the need for renewable energy alternatives is more pressing than ever before.
This is where cellulosic ethanol and chemical engineering come in as game changers. This biofuel is made from non-food plant materials like grasses, wood chips, and agricultural waste. Unlike traditional corn ethanol, cellulosic ethanol doesn’t compete with food production and has a much lower carbon footprint.
Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide a more reliable and cost-effective fuel supply, and support the growth of rural economies, all the while reducing dependence on foreign oil.
In fact, studies suggest that cellulosic ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86% compared to gasoline.
Skilled Trades Are An Important Part of America’s Future
The labor shortage of skilled tradesmen in pipefitting, welding, electrical and machinists is well-documented throughout the United States. Older generations of skilled tradesmen are entering retirement much faster than they can be replaced. One statistic indicates that over 50 percent of skilled-trade workers in the U.S. are 50 years old and older, and nearly 20 percent are over 60.
The One Thing That Can Make or Break Your Capital Project
Communication is one of the most significant factors in any kind of successful venture. Whether it’s operating a business or executing a capital project, communication among team members and between stakeholders is critical. Clarifying understanding, and enabling trust and confidence, are just a few of the critical benefits of optimized communication. This blog post is intended to explore the application of effective communication, specifically in capital projects.
Test Systems for Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices
Life Sciences and medical device manufacturers all over the world rely on test and measurement systems during the production process. These systems play a key role in improving product quality and overall productivity. At Re:Build Optimation, we have over 30 years of experience in providing quality test system integration to several industries, including life sciences, pharmaceutical and medical.
How to Know When to Say No to a Project
Sometimes, the right thing to do is say “no” and walk away.
When you are in business, especially in sales, the object is to win or sell as many jobs as you can, but sometimes it is better to turn down the opportunity if it is not a good match for your business or if the risk is too high.
We have talked about the importance of understanding the requirements for a project and how it is required to have a successful project. What happens when you understand the requirements and realize that the job is not the right fit for your company? Saying no to a large opportunity that is staring you in the face can be difficult, but it may be the best thing for your company.
When a project is not well defined with sound requirements it is very difficult to estimate the work. We’ve talked before about asking the right questions to define the job, doing preliminary engineering, etc.
Safety Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Just this past weekend a worker died in the Alberta oil sands region near Fort McMurray. We can take lessons from this tragedy and remind ourselves to study our practices to ensure that corners are not cut and best practices are employed to assure workplace safety. This blog post speaks to safety issues in general, as we have no relationship with the project, operators, or individuals in the Fort McMurray accident.
Industry 4.0 – What is the Return on Investment?
During the past decade, the Internet of Things has been steadily advancing and becoming a part of our lives. We get texts from our cars when the tire pressure is low or suggesting we should stop and buy another gallon of windshield washer fluid. We can turn on the oven or close the garage door at home from our office. These opportunities are supported by small amounts of data and provide simple solutions.
Asking the Right Questions During the Bid Process
Sometimes it is not what you say, but how you say it. In the engineering services world, we live by requirements (what you say – or write). Sometimes we create the requirements for or with our clients, and other times we write a proposal in response to the requirements and define a project to meet them.