CLARiSUITER FROM VIDEOJET IMPROVES EFFICIENCY AND SLASHES PRODUCTION COSTS

Phil Black - PII Editor 15/10/2012

112 4 minutes read

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Streamlined processes boost productivity, cut waste and increase profitability

Videojet Technologies Inc., the leading worldwide manufacturer of industrial ink jet product identification systems, is announcing CLARiSUITE, a new software solutions service that helps customers streamline their production operations and maximise profitability. One CLARiSUITE user, a manufacturer of prepared meals, has saved $240,000 after reducing line changeovers.

Using Videojet Technologies” solutions, operations can apply high-quality alphanumeric codes, barcodes, logos and graphics on a wide range of surfaces at virtually any line speed, angle, or location. CLARiSUITE is designed to make job setup faster, smoother, more effective and reduce errors, risk, rework and recalls.

Pain Free Production
Colin Morgan, Videojet Technologies Technical Solutions Director, explains: “With shorter, more highly specified jobs, accuracy of content and speed of delivery is increasingly important which is why we have developed CLARiSUITE. We want to help customers identify where their pressures are. We will then create the most effective solution that will transform their operation from the outset but also continue to support it in the long-term.”

CLARiSUITE comprises of CLARiSOFTR, an intuitive Windows message design and central database system that provides a standard solution for coding operations and CLARiNETR, management software that controls multiple packaging management technologies of coding and scanning equipment.

CLARiSOFT ensures accurate messages are applied to the correct packages, even if more than one type of marking and coding technology is used. As a result, there is no need to create different designs for different coder types and no need for different printer specific design software.

“With increased interest toward versioning, software like this can have a dramatic impact on production times by enabling all the print processes on one or more packaging lines to be set automatically from the lead coder,” says Mr Morgan. “The benefits of this are not only faster packaging setup but also increased level of data integrity across the whole packaging chain from primary cartons to the pallet.

Increasing control and efficiency
“The result is increased control and efficiency as well as a reduction in errors,” he says. “All designs can be created and managed away from the production line while the finished design can be reviewed and signed off before printing, to reduce waste and save time. It also reduces the potential for human error.”

With the ability to eliminate day-to-day operator input, CLARiNET cuts waste by delivering accurate on-pack coding to ensure the correct product information is placed on the right packaging. This also increases production line efficiency and reduces operating costs. Quick, simple, error-free setup significantly reduces job preparation while an intuitive dashboard display can provide live performance, status and efficiency information and production and audit logs. This guarantees traceability and enables quantitative analysis. An optional intranet view of live performance information can be transmitted company-wide.

Another highlight is its ability to work with third party solutions: “It can connect a number of different manufacturing systems in-house,” comments Mr Morgan. “This creates faster, smoother and more effective data integrity and code assurance when working with different legacy solutions.”

CLARiNET supports the connectivity of coders, CLARiSOFT and other devices throughout the company.

CLARiSUITE features powerful and easy job selection methods using fixed and remote barcode scanners. There are also scanners that can be used for job verification. With CLARiNET and CLARiSOFT, operations can retrieve real-time data as well. Examples include weights from scales to create accurate pricing.

CLARiSUITE enables a more effective workforce: “The automation and control delivered by CLARiSUITE removes the requirement for skilled staff to visit multiple coders and spend time setting up jobs,” adds Mr Morgan. “As a result, skilled personnel can now be redeployed throughout the business in more profit generating roles.”

The final element of CLARiSUITE is CLARiSURE, a service and support element created to help customers fully understand and put into practice the combined benefits of the new package as well as handle any technical issues.

Meeting varied customer needs
To best address the varied customer demands operations face on a day-to-day basis, there are three versions of CLARiSUITE offering different levels of functionality: Foundation, Alliance and Enterprise. “Our customers span a wide range of industrial sectors such as food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, electronics, aerospace and chemicals, and each one requires specific levels of assured delivery, reliability and integrity,” explains Mr Morgan. “With these choices, we can help them define the most suitable and effective way of managing their production.”

CLARiSUITE”s capabilities stand out in markets where transparency and assured integrity are vital. For example the food retail market: “In the UK, there has been a rise in private label produce for supermarkets chains such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer as more people buy pre-prepared food,” says Mr Morgan. “For foodstuffs with a short shelf-life, the addition of correct information is critical. A recall could cost tens of thousands of pounds and even lose a coveted contract. Every time production switches jobs there is a possibility an error could occur. This suite of solutions significantly reduces that potential.”

One operation enjoying the benefits is a manufacturer of prepared meals that operates 12 lines coding primary and secondary packaging on ten unique products per week, per line. These frequent changeovers were eating into productivity and profitability – especially when short shelf-life necessitated up to five line changeovers per week taking 30 minutes each and costing $300,000 per year. Videojet”s CLARiSUITE introduced greater automation to address production planning and redesign processes to increase batch sizes and minimize the number of changeovers. The result was a reduction in line cost changeovers of $240,000 per year and coding related issues, the elimination of manual code entry and increased sales.

Another manufacturer of fresh produce with 28 production lines across several facilities has significantly reduced recalls due to incorrect coding as a result of manual data entry. They saved more than $100,000 in penalties imposed by customers and $45,000 in waste packaging.

CLARiSUITE improved accurate coding and traceability through centralization. It also secured message management and streamlined the setup process with a barcode scanner to auto-select messages helping ensure the correct message is always printed.

Mr Morgan concludes: “While these large organisations have clearly reaped the benefits, smaller operations with fewer printers can also harness the technology to guarantee code integrity and deliver time and cost savings.”

For additional information, contact:
Xavier Chaveton, Marketing Communications, Videojet Technologies Inc. Tel:+33 6 22 11 21 65 E-mail: xavier.chaveton@videojet.com Web: www.videojet.com