WINDOWS Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 30

p r o d u cts Production and Labour Scheduling (PALS) I have yet to see a fabrication business that doesn’t optimise materials before ordering. It’s just done as a matter of process. Stock is checked and the most efficient method of ordering, with the least amount of waste, is normally applied. So why is it the same approach is so rarely taken with the other biggest overhead in a fabrication business? Labour. Think about it. We optimise our materials, why not our labour? Window manufacturing can be a tough gig these days. Overseas imports, economic influences and of course competition is rife. It seems someone is always prepared to do the job just a little bit cheaper than you. In an effort to lower our costs and save eroding margins, we shop around suppliers and reduce effective spending within our businesses. And yet, when the workload increases or delivery dates are not met, we don’t hesitate to increase our labour force and thus our overheads. Soft Tech’s PALS software gives your business the tools to capture, analyse and manage your labour and production processes. At a glance, you can see where the bottlenecks are in your factory and exactly where you are under or over resourced. PALS makes the production process transparent to all within the organisation: Ensuring processes are followed, tasks completed on time, every time, and labour efficiencies are accurately measured. And, this of course translates into accurate and consistent scheduling of orders and deliveries. Now with the addition of the PALS android app, keeping the system up to date is easy and non-invasive to the workers productivity. To learn more about Soft Tech’s PALS and how it can optimise your production labour, contact Rod Hurley at [email protected] or 0477 667 130. buildings for people trickle vents provide passive ventilation without human intervention W ith increasingly air tight buildings, operable windows can provide much needed fresh air. However, for reasons such as security, some occupants are unwilling or unable to open windows at the most suitable time. Proctor Ventient™ trickle vents enable the provision of fresh air regardless of occupancy, making this an ideal solution for multi-residential apartments, aged care, education and health facilities, hotels, student accommodation and Greenstar projects. Without electric power, sensors or human intervention, Ventient™ devices passively control ventilation volumes dependent on ambient temperatures, optimising ventilation without uncomfortable cold drafts. The patented Ventient™ SCW range designed for curtain walls is ideal for providing make up air via the façade and Ventient™ wind dampening mechanisms can regulate air flow under high wind loads. Proctor Ventient™ has been installed in Australia and local window manufacturers are already working on the integration of custom designed Ventient™ trickle vents. For more information please visit www.proctorgroup.com.au/ventient 28 Australian Window Association Summer 2015