Conveying the Importance of Conveyor Systems

United Parcel Service logo (2003–2011) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was recently watching a YouTube video showing Jamie Oliver talking to children in large cities about food. He was showing them a random assortment of vegetables, everything from eggplant down to potatoes, peppers and corn on the cob. Amazingly to me, the kids were unable to identify the vast majority of the foods. It was quite clear that many children have no idea where their food comes from anymore. It comes pre-packaged and prepared and ready to eat. Macaroni and cheese, to them, really does grow on trees. Food is food, it doesn't come from parts, it simply is.

This led to a really interesting discussion shortly after with some friends of mine who were discussing how little modern man knows about anything. Some highlights included:

• How do we make a lightbulb?
• Where does electricity come from?
• How do we fix the engine in our cars?
• How do we have access to everything at all times?

The last point to me was really interesting. The question was posed originally about the internet, but it expanded into - how do we get fruit in North Dakota in the middle of the winter? 70 years ago that sure wasn't happening, but now you go to the store and there it is. You need a TV tomorrow? You don't even have to leave your house, go online and order it and it's at your door in moments.

Interestingly enough, the true hero in this scenario is logistics. More importantly, if you wander into a FedEx hub or a UPS one, you'll see automation and conveyor systems at their finest. Automated picking systems select and sort products at critical points and move them quickly and efficiently from point A to point B to point C and eventually to your doorstep with a bit of human intervention at each point along the way. 

The efficiency and smarts built into these automated conveyor systems are amazing. Products can be scanned and sorted, routed and picked based on weights, RFID and other means that few of us can even comprehend. 

While many kids may no longer know what's for dinner, I do know that the things that landed on their plate are largely due to automated logistics and some amazing conveyor systems that make our lives much more luxurious and a whole lot easier!

Image via CrunchBase

The dip in soybean production caused by farmers gravitating to ethanol production got you down? Well, the 2/25 issue of Business Week highlights another potential shortage you might see in 2008: Television ad time.

The shortage is caused by the need for Presidential candidates to broadcast their message to us in those tasty bite-sized nuggets, the 30 second commercial:

Politicians are expected to spend $3 billion on TV ads this year, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group. The spending spree, up from $1.7 billion in 2004, will do more than raise the prices in the $26 billion TV spot ad market, where rates could double in contested battlegrounds such as Ohio and Florida.

Leave it to Spend Management leader Hewlett-Packard to offer strategies to manage this short term capacity constraint and prove that good sourcing is not just for procurement any more. Scott Berg, HP’s global marketing chief plans to use good sourcing practices in a non-traditional market:

1. Increasing the use of substitutes: HP will shift their focus to spend more on internet and radio ads.
2. Identify spot pockets of unused capacity: Berg’s team will identify local TV markets where candidates have dropped out of races, leaving inexpensive ad spots available for opportunistic buyers.

Obviously TV ad time isn’t a “commodity” many of you are regularly purchasing, but HP’s silver lining approach to market conditions shows that Spend Management isn’t just a procurement department goal. And you’ve got to admire their flexibility and creativity in adapting to external events. Certainly not bad goals no matter what you’re purchasing.

3 Reasons We're Struggling with Obesity

Obesity Campaign Poster (Photo credit: Pressbound)

According to the great article I just read, three things are contributing to our “growing” obesity problem in this nation: 

1) Poor Diets

2) Lack of Exercise

3) A Plethora of Mis-Information.

The article shines some light on all 3 of these problems and shows exactly how they tie into the obesity epidemic that is spreading all over our nation. Poor diets slow metabolisms, making it harder for your body to burn fat; they teach people that “quick fixes” exist and that weight loss can be as easy as starving ourselves.

Lack of exercise, well, that’s an obvious one, if we don’t exercise, we don’t stay in good cardiovascular health, we don’t have our bodies running at its best potential, and due to that, we gain extra weight.

Bottom line, all 3 areways that obesity is so successfully sweeping across our nation. Avoid those 3 and you’ll avoid the obesity. Go to a gym where they have hydraulic resistance circuit training routines that can help you stay in the best shape of your life.

Related articles

• What Causes Obesity

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• Fit Mommy: Give Your Metabolism A Boost!!

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Cold Drawn Supplier Featured!

English: Bar Graph illustrating the Change in Productivity within the Manufacturing Sector of industry in the United States, 1987 - 2010. To what extent could declining Manufacturing Productivity suggest a trend of deindustrialisation? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One company that I am quite close with was recently featured in a monthly newsletter, and they got great reviews! You can check out their June article and read it for yourself! They were noted for continuing an impressive growth in an industry that most people do not consider to be healthy. The manufacturing industry has beaten and battered over the years across the United States, but they continue to show great numbers and their workforce continues to expand!

For the most part, they make steel products like cold drawn bar and wire. Hopefully it's businesses like this one that help turn around our economy!

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• New Age Aviation parts supplier

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Trench Shoring - Shore Thing

Construction seen through construction (Photo credit: RahelSharon)

With the start of the summer season, a great deal of construction work will be done all around the world. With that work comes a great deal of accidents in the form of falling debris, collapsing trenches and building walls, and simple laziness. Fortunately, or unfortunately, however you want to look at it, these accidents can all be prevented with simple precaution or proper equipment. Here are a few of the most important items needed for overall construction safety.

Any form of digging can lead to the sides of the holes, or trenches, collapsing just like sand will fill a hole you dig on the beach. This is extremely dangerous for anyone unfortunate enough to be stuck inside the trench as hundreds of pounds of debris can crush them. Trench shoring is the answer, and the equipment required can be bought or rented, depending on the construction needs.

As mentioned before, falling debris as small as a hammer can lead to permanent injury or death. Any person walking around a construction site should be required to be wearing a hard hat. In a perfect world, no one drops heavy things from 4 stories above ground. Unfortunately it happens all the time, and without a hard hat, the results can be fatal.

Along with construction equipment, proper clothing should be worn for proper situations. Bulwark FR is needed for anyone entering the line of duty involving fire or hot substances. Simple carpenters jeans are fine for anyone doing routine construction work. Even if you need some better shoes or sunglasses for your job, bring them in advance so you don't do any long term damage to your body. Just prepare well in advance so your body doesn't take a toll.

San Ramon, AT&T Poised to Sign IPTV Agreement

By Scott Marshall, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Mar. 15--SAN RAMON -- San Ramon is expected to sign an agreement this afternoon with AT&T for the company to introduce Internet Protocol Television service here. This would be the first AT&T deal with an East Bay city.

Source: San Ramon, AT&T Poised to Sign IPTV Agreement - RedNova 

IPTV World Forum 2006: the role of broadband in content delivery

From 6-8 March 2006, the IPTV Forum at Earls Court in Londonbrought together a mix of telcos and TV and content executives, and with them a view of the content offers intended to drive IPTV towards commercial success. The key message from the Hollywoodstudios to the telcos was to focus on successful IPTV and VoD marketing strategies. The telcos' message for the studios was to "soften" their attitude towards telcos' entry into the content delivery space and to increase their confidence in the telcos' ability to execute successful digital rights management (DRM). The main interest lay in the message each industry had for the other in the context of what do content providers/studios want? And what is the telcos' IPTV experience to date in dealing with content providers?

Source: IPTV World Forum 2006: the role of broadband in content delivery - Ovum