News & Knowledge

We’re your source for automation news. Keep up with the latest industry updates and E Tech employee spotlights, as well as tips and guidance from our manufacturing experts.  

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E Tech Group Automation Engineer Shares Expertise on Control Engineering Magazine Webcast

E Tech Group Lead Automation Engineer, Kevin Tom shared his knowledge and expertise on Best Practices for Effective Automation Applications for Control Engineering Magazine‘s webcast on August 16th, 2022, where he discussed the nuances of control system applications. When Should a Process be Automated? Kevin explains the criteria that a company should consider when weighing whether or not to apply automation to a process: What is being made and how is it currently being produced? Consider tools, parts, mechanisms. What is the environment like? Consider space constraints, equipment, hazards. What is the labor pool like? Consider union/non-union, labor shortages, turnover. In considering automation, goals and constraints must also be hashed out: Are we trying to replace human labor with mechanized processes? Are we trying to scale up operations/increase throughput? What is the capital we have to/are willing to invest in this project and what is the necessary ROI? These questions are all addressed early on in a project’s inception, as stakeholders hold the keys to the budget needed for an automation project. However, control system engineers should also be consulted early on to give insight into the specifics of these questions, like cost, ROI, improvement caps. Applying Automation is as Much Planning as Execution Kevin Tom’s cohost points out that much of the time, the options are: automate or die. It may sound histrionic, but the labor shortage is a real and pervasive issue, especially when manufacturers are trying to scale. Increased production goals means hire more people. But there aren’t enough people to be found, and/or high turnover, and/or lack of qualified professionals, which all present labor bottlenecks. Automation is the best (and only) solution to avoiding the obstacles associated with labor shortages. However, it isn’t as simple as design-build-implement. For the transition to automation to run smoothly, the system first … Continued

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E Tech Group Director of Operations Featured on CSIA Podcast

A recent episode of CSIA’s podcast: Talking Industrial Automation, featured E Tech Group’s Director of Operations, Cassy Gardner. A decade of experience in engineering, sales and project management in the Life Sciences field has allowed Cassy to leverage her engineering and MBA degrees to help clients achieve their automation goals. On the podcast, Gardner discusses how she came into the field of automation, citing a professor who inspired her during her senior year and connected her to the automation professionals at Banks Integration, which later became a part of E Tech Group. Let’s look at some of the questions Cassy tackled in her podcast interview and her main talking points: Q: What kinds of trends and challenges are you seeing in industrial automation right now? Engineering labor shortages. Partners, clients, and other automation firms are having a really hard time filling positions with the right type of talent. Company visibility. We’re competing with giants like Apple and Google for the same talent, but are largely referred only by word of mouth within the automation industry. A lack of emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion in recruitment practices. Q: What is DEI and why is it important? Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Another letter being added on is Belonging It’s about people from different backgrounds having equal opportunity to share their skills and perspective. This in turn improves design and engineering because you’re harnessing diverse points of view and skill sets. DEI measures improve the quality of a talent search. Diversity: having a wide array of perspectives and backgrounds Equity: fairness – being thoughtful in policies, procedures and vocabulary Inclusion & Belonging: going past people showing up – making sure people feel like they are a part of the organization/project/story Q: What do you mean by diversity? Engineering is a male-dominated field, … Continued

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Life Sciences Sponsors ISPE 27th Annual Fun Day

E Tech Group’s Life Sciences team was a sponsor for ISPE San Francisco’s 27th Annual Fun Day, where professionals across the automation and pharmaceutical industry got to do a different kind of networking – at golf courses and wineries. We are honored to be involved with ISPE and enjoyed seeing and having a day of fun with so many of our partners and industry colleagues. About the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) ISPE is a non-profit organization that connects pharmaceutical knowledge with manufacturing processes, including things like food sciences and pharmaceutical automation. Their mission is to support and advance pharmaceutical engineering by providing professionals with resources for innovation, networking and industry advancement. The San Francisco Bay chapter has been a particularly active chapter since its inception in the early ‘90s. E Tech Group is proud to be an active participant and sponsor in ISPE’s San Francisco Bay’s initiatives. About E Tech Group: A Nationwide Leader in Pharmaceutical Automation E Tech Group is a leader in automation innovation. Our Life Science division supports clients across the Life Sciences sector, including pharmaceuticals, cultured meats, and biologics. We share the ISPE values of supporting industry advancement and innovation with each client we serve. Offering the best in industrial data analytics, automation services and control system integration, we design, build and support custom manufacturing automation solutions that add value, security, efficiency, and scalability. If you’d like to learn more about E Tech Group’s capabilities in the pharmaceutical field, visit our Life Sciences page.

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E Tech Group’s Challenge for Charity

Each month E Tech Group’s internal Wellness Team promotes healthy living through a different internal “challenge” that focuses on one area of wellness. For our July we had a “Challenge for Charity.” Employees tracked their active minutes; the more activities and fitness minutes tracked the more money we would donate to Revived Soldiers Ukraine. Over the course of the month E Tech Group team members recorded over 45,000 active minutes! We are honored to contribute and support to the efforts of Revived Soldiers Ukraine.

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GE Manufacturing Execution System & the Advantages of Proficy Plant Applications

GE’s automation software is some of the best on the market, and GE’s Proficy MES solution for plant automation is no different. GE Proficy Plant Applications optimize operations for all kinds of manufacturers – from food and beverage production to the aviation industry, with modules dedicated to process execution, quality and reliability. Data collection is extensive and integration/analysis lets operators focus on critical areas of their business knowing their systems are performing at best capacity. Advantages of this GE software include reduced waste and product recall, better decision-making with real-time reports, improved regulations compliance, the ability to change and specify processes, and a comprehensive view of the plant’s operations that allows better use of resources.