Automation
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Coordinated and Sponsored by
The high cost of labor and the increasing scarcity of qualified workers are major concerns of the greenhouse industry, even in areas that have traditionally had an abundance of low-cost labor. Plus, the competitive nature of the business is forcing all growers to look at mechanization and automation in the areas of environmental control, watering, material handling and production scheduling, in an effort to improve their profit margins and their productivity. That's why we're hosting a special Greenhouse Automation Symposium, to address labor efficiency improvement issues with a focus on material handling. This full-day symposium will be held September 11, 2007 as a part of GrowerTalks' Greenhouse Experience. The symposium is cosponsored by Mississippi State University, The Ohio State University and Ball Publishing. This Automation Symposium is designed to deliver the latest information on greenhouse labor-saving technology and the logistical considerations you need to make to improve your productivity, as well as growers' real-world perspectives of investing in automation. Sessions will cover automation technology, mechanization implementation, labor-saving devices, greenhouse design and material flow considerations, technology decisions for small and mid-sized growers, and more. For any business to last, it has to be profitable. Our hope is, by helping you improve your productivity, you’ll not only improve your profit margin, you'll also improve the productivity and morale of your employees.
8:00–8:10 a.m.
Introduction (Christine Coker and Peter Ling)
8:10–9:00 a.m.
Cutting-Edge Greenhouse Automation Technology and Labor Retention
Speaker: Cees Visser, Visser IT&E, Netherlands
What’s new in Dutch technology for greenhouse automation? Cees will present the latest automation equipment and software for young plants, pot plants production, delivery systems and logistics, with practical examples and guidelines. He will also address the impact of technology on labor management issues and how to analyze the real cost of your facility and automation.
9:30–10:30 a.m.
How to Make Automation Work for You - From Trade Show Floor to Production Floor
Speakers: Mike Kanczak, AgriNomix, Oberlin, OH; and Wayne Cousins, Casa Verde Growers, Columbia Station, OH
Growers have experienced varying degrees of success with automation. Some are able to choose the right machinery and implement it successfully. Some have purchased equipment that ended up in the scrap pile. Mike will share information that will help you plan each step of the process, from the trade show to successful implementation. Wayne will share his own experience from Casa Verde Growers on how they’ve adopt technology to make their production more efficient. He will talk about the process of automated production, and the mindset required to make it work.
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Labor Saving Devices and Methods
Speaker: John Bartok, University of Connecticut, Ashford, CT
Many small to medium size growers can’t justify the purchase of high-tech automated equipment due to its specialized function or limited use. John will discuss the basic principles of materials handling, illustrated with examples of low-tech and grower-built equipment, work station layout and plant-handling techniques. He’ll also do a comparison of various transplanting methods and cover employee issues such as ergonomics, safety, ADA and training.
1:15–2:30 p.m.
Greenhouse Layout, Design and Process Flow Considerations to Improve Efficiency
Speakers: Drew Lathin, C. Raker & Sons Inc., Litchfield, MI; and John Hoogeboon, Rough Brothers, Cincinnati, OH
"Lean manufacturing" is an approach to designing work flow that is based on the Toyota Production System. Typical results include 40-50% improvements in productivity and significant declines in defects. In this session, Drew Lathin will describe the lean manufacturing initiative currently underway at Michigan’s C. Raker & Sons. He’ll detail the concepts of lean manufacturing and give examples from the actual implementations at the Raker facility. John will discuss greenhouse layout and design of new construction, and retrofitting existing facilities for improved process flows.
3:00–4:15 p.m.
Investing in Technology: A Decision-Making Process for Large and Small Growers
Speakers: Lloyd Traven, Peace Tree Farm, Kintnersville, PA; and Leroy Devries, Henry Mast Greenhouses, Inc., Byron Center, MI
In addition to automated equipment, improving productivity in a greenhouse relies on well-defined sales plans, good workers, a good work environment, consistent quality of starter plants and materials, and a well-designed and well-operated production facility. Leroy will share his experience of lean manufacturing to turn a greenhouse operation into a plant factory at Henry Mast Greenhouse, which does large-volume deliveries to mass market outlets. And Lloyd will share his experience of productivity and quality improvement as a smaller grower of year-round, low-volume, high-value sales to independent customers.
4:45–6:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Lessons Learned from Bringing Automation onto My Production Floor
Panelists: (Cees Visser, Visser IT&E, Netherlands; Mike Kanczak, AgriNomix, Oberlin, OH; Wayne Cousins, Casa Verde Growers, Columbia Station, OH
Drew Lathin, C. Raker & Sons Inc., Litchfield, MI; John Hoogeboon, Rough Brothers, Cincinnati, OH; John Bartok, University of Connecticut, Ashford, CT; Lloyd Traven, Peace Tree Farm, Kintnersville, PA; and Leroy Devries, Henry Mast Greenhouses, Inc., Byron Center, MI
To wrap up the symposium, we’re bringing all our speakers back for a panel discussion about the “lessons learned” from automating the greenhouse. Successes and failures, money well spent and money wasted, and tips from those who’ve been there … we’ll cover it all in this a fast-paced, high-energy, panel session.