Manual vs. Automated End-of-Line: How Do You Know When to Automate?

Worker stacking boxes on left, palletizer automatically stacking boxes on left

Introduction Automation isn’t always the right answer, and it’s never free. But for many CPG operations, the question isn’t whether to automate end-of-line, it’s which step to automate first and what to expect from it. Here’s a grounded framework for thinking it through. The Case for Staying Manual Not every operation should automate. In some … Read more

The Hidden Cost of Complexity: Why Part Count Matters in a Case Erector

Technician adjusting parts on a case erector

Introduction Part count is not usually the first thing buyers ask about in a case erector.  It does not headline a sales sheet, and most vendors would rather talk about speed, footprint, and flexibility. But after a machine has been on your floor for a while, part count starts to matter a lot. At that … Read more