Author: Seth Bailey

B2B vs. B2C: A Brief Overview

How do B2B and B2C compare and differ? In this section, we define each warehouse category and examine the challenges they face.

What is a B2B Warehouse?

A warehouse that specializes in business to business (“B2B”) orders typically sends products in bulk on a recurring basis. Simply put, the warehouse is sending items from its manufacturing business to another business.

For example, if a company needs supplies for the coming year, a B2B warehouse can deliver a large quantity of products for employees to have on hand. That way, team members will have essential items in stock to run their business.

Since B2B fulfillment consists of frequent, bulk orders, accuracy plays a key role. Additionally, shipments sent via sea freight, air freight or ground can be expensive and require longer delivery lead times. Along with that, longer lead times and overseas suppliers need to be considered during the receiving process in a B2B warehouse. With all of this at stake, order errors can be costly and result in a loss of company time.

It’s also important to note that a business may also have compliance restrictions, and B2B warehouses need to prove they can meet those requirements. Examples include tax rules, barcodes, parcel labels and invoices.

What is a B2C Warehouse?

Business to consumer (the “B2C” meaning) involves a company offering products for individual customers rather than other businesses. As a result, a B2C warehouse oversees large volumes of orders with smaller quantities of product in each order. This is different from B2B orders which tend to contain mass quantities of items.

In our fast paced world, many consumers expect their delivery within the same day or soon after. When it comes to the receiving process in a B2C warehouse, it’s important to note that customers have less tolerance for delays. With this in mind, B2C fulfillment requires a great deal of accuracy and speed. Additionally, a B2C warehouse is more likely to have to handle returns than a B2B warehouse. As a result, B2C warehouses need the latest technology and foolproof management systems to monitor shipments.

Since B2C warehouses take customer experience into consideration, they may also offer special packaging features, like tissue paper, gift wrapping or personalized greeting cards.

Responding to the Pandemic’s Impact on the Manufacturing Industry

Problems in the manufacturing industry due to COVID-19 have led to reduced demand and disrupted supply chains. But they’ve also presented opportunities for growth, innovation and competitive advantage in the industry. To bounce back from the impact of COVID-19 on manufacturing industries, we recommend your facility does the following:

B2B Fulfillment vs. B2C Fulfillment

Now that you know the basics of B2B vs. B2C, let’s examine how they differ when it comes to fulfilling and delivering orders.

Pre-Purchase Stage

When it comes to the pre-purchasing stage, B2B and B2C warehouses differ in the following ways:

Purchase Stage

During the point of purchase, B2B and B2C warehouses face differences when it comes to the:

Post-Purchase Stage

After a purchase is made, it’s up to B2B and B2C warehouses to gather and ship the product. While both must work to fulfill their orders, they handle the following things differently:

Paving the Way Through Effective Mentorship

As with everything else we do at Span Tech, our leadership development program was created with care and precision. While reflecting on past success is important, we realized it’s even more crucial to look to the future of the industry. This inspired us to examine our team and develop our process of succession planning.

Span Tech’s organization is made up of innovative leaders who excel in thinking outside of the box. Our mission is to educate, inspire and help them perform their duties at their absolute best. The new Span Tech leadership development program is intended to do just that.

Through expert training and guidance, this program helps develop excellent leadership and management skills. That way, when it’s time for one of our valued employees to retire and pass the torch, the transition will be easy and without error.

A Closer Look at the Program

A key factor of this program involves committed mentors who are capable and willing to see it through. Our mentors have an altruistic mindset and focus on what’s best for Span Tech as a whole. With the utmost dedication to quality and customer service, they’ll apply core values and critical thinking to the future of Span Tech and plan for generations to come.

Will we allow something we invested so much blood, sweat and tears in to flourish under amazing leadership or collapse under the lack thereof? The leadership development program is here to help ensure the latter won’t occur.

Span Tech’s leaders are those who step up to serve as mentors with a vision. They have invested themselves in creating something amazing, and they want to see that creation grow and thrive for future generations. Though the employees stepping out to take on the responsibility of personal growth may be doing it for a future position or promotion, they are gaining so much more. They will have the opportunity to work with subject matter experts the likes of which most companies struggle to find.

Our mentors possess a collective wealth of knowledge, so every mentee will exit the program ready to take on any challenging project with success. Additionally, they’ll understand what it takes to be an effective leader in a competitive industry.

The Future of Manufacturing in 2021

The year 2020 introduced a new decade with unprecedented obstacles for warehouse facilities.
The industry learned that every challenge presents an opportunity for manufacturing
advancements. You can bet that future manufacturing technology will reflect how assembly lines
and warehouses are responding to COVID-19. What else can you expect from 2021 trends in
the manufacturing process? We’re looking ahead to see how manufacturing in 2021 will
continue to be impacted by COVID-19 and what exciting trends are just around the corner

1. Manufacturers Plan Their COVID-19 Exit Strategy

From health to economy, COVID-19 impacted the world on a variety of levels. While many
businesses have shut down, there are those fortunate ones that have stayed open.
Manufacturers that managed to survive were forced to nix their pre-pandemic strategies and
adapt accordingly. With 2021 hopefully bringing an end to COVID-19, it’s important to have a
pandemic exit plan for your company.

Since the manufacturing industry is so diverse, it’s safe to say that no two companies’ exit strategies will look the same. We’ve identified the following possible pathways businesses can take to reset, depending on how they’ve been affected by the pandemic:

2. The Internet of Things Continues to Grow

As a manufacturing trend in 2020, the internet of things (IoT) isn’t going anywhere anytime
soon. Predicted to become even more popular in 2021, the IoT consists of the interconnection
of unique devices with an existing internet infrastructure. By utilizing smart devices,
manufacturers can make informed, strategic decisions with real-time data. Future manufacturing
technology like this will help with cost reduction, enhanced efficiency, improved safety and
product innovation. Manufacturers can expect new opportunities for connecting operations and
transforming business processes.

3. Employee Safety Becomes More Important Than Ever

When it comes to the 2021 trends in the manufacturing process, safety will be at the forefront.
While workplace safety has always been essential, it will be even more crucial as our COVID-19
world unfolds. From maintaining a sanitary work environment to practicing conveyor safety,
manufacturing companies can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and avoid life-threatening
injuries. Additionally, manufacturers will demand greater transparency from suppliers in attempts to track issues and claims throughout the assembly process. As one of the latest trends in manufacturing, increased safety levels will have a direct effect on supply chain visibility.

4. Touchless Service with Virtual and Augmented Reality

COVID-19 has presented major obstacles in the manufacturing industry, but augmented reality
(AR) and virtual reality (VR) are here to help. These manufacturing advancements in technology
will make it easier than ever for technicians to provide remote assistance. By sending your
customers AR- and VR-enabled devices, you can walk them through troubleshooting, repairs
and more.

Expect AR and VR to present exciting opportunities for manufacturers. Before the pandemic hit, consumers had been hesitant to explore touchless service and preferred having a technician onsite for a job. In 2021, however, customers will value the touchless service AR and VR can provide. Why? Using AR and VR will help promote social distancing and reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Doing this will also give manufacturers the chance to explore new lines of business and stay ahead of the game in the industry

5. Manufacturers Reevaluate Shoring & Sourcing

In the wake up COVID-19, Americans realized how very dependent the U.S. was on offshore
manufacturing. As the pandemic showed, we can find ourselves without access to enough
critical supplies. Expect to see reshoring play a big role in manufacturing in 2021 as more
businesses value domestic production.

Manufacturers will also re-evaluate sourcing — the process by which a business brings
operations closer to where its finished product is sold. By sourcing raw materials from domestic suppliers, manufacturers will help reduce dependency on foreign countries.

These 2021 trends in the manufacturing process will help businesses remain resilient to any culture COVID-19 disruption. Should countries shut down again due to COVID-19, these manufacturing advancements will help businesses remain resilient and protect the U.S. economy

Span Tech’s Cutting Edge Design Technology

From manufacturing trends to the latest in innovation testing, Span Tech is continuously leading the way in the plastic chain conveyor industry. Another way our team strives to produce exceptional products is with our in-house design technology. We’re taking a look at the cutting edge software and tools Span Tech uses to create conveyor design layouts that satisfy our customers and outperform our competition.

Navigator Software

Span Tech’s Designer System launched in 1988, and that was the beginning of our Navigator Software. We utilize this high-tech platform to create a 3D WireFrame layout of our customers’ requirements. Our team can provide designs in just a few days based on the size and complexity of the job. With the customer provided layout, product information and environment conditions, a Navigator generated layout will be presented to the customer for design approval. Below is a layout example:

Torque Master

Along with Navigator software, we also use Torque Master. This runs inside Navigator and provides the torque that’s required based on the conveyor layout and product specifications. Torque Master also provides color coded cells informing the designer that the conveyor will be in normal operating limits. This program ensures that every conveyor we design will be functional and convey our customers’ specified products.

Transfer Technology

Based on the product our customer wants, a transfer may be required to provide a smooth transition on and off of the conveyor. To do this, our team implements our specialized Transfer Technology program. Utilizing real time product testing, this platform provides the lowest cost transfer for the product being conveyed. Below is an example of a low cost application of a Gravity Transfer Roller System.

Solid Works 3D Modeling Software

Now and then, we’re required to provide special automation in addition to our conveyor layout. When this happens, we use Solid Works 3D Modeling Software. Below is a Span Tech Lift Gate that can be raised manually to provide a walk through access.

So, Who Invented the Conveyor Belt?

If this industrial staple had a single inventor, his or her name has sadly been lost to time. Many people throughout history can claim a bit of responsibility in helping the conveyor evolve and become more efficient, however.

For example, the world has American manufacturer and inventor Thomas Robbins to thank for a conveyor belt system that transported coal and ore for Thomas Edison’s Ore-Milling Company. His invention won the grand prize at the Paris Exposition World Fair and went on to revolutionize the mining industry.

Another noteworthy pioneer in the conveyor belt’s history is none other than automobile
manufacturer Henry Ford. He introduced the idea of a conveyor belt assembly line to his Michigan factory and continuously improved upon its technology. In doing this, Ford made conveyor systems mainstream, and their popularity only grew.

The Conveyor System Timeline

When was the conveyor belt invented? Since the name of the conveyor’s exact inventor is unknown, it’s hard to say for sure. Long before Robbins and Ford, however, the first conveyor systems are thought to have been used as early as 1795. They were made of a leather or canvas belt that traveled over a flat wooden bed. Years later, Robbins developed the modern conveyor belt’s direct precursor in 1892, while Ford began using and improving upon it in 1913.

To give you a better understanding of monumental moments in conveyor belt history, we created the following timeline:

Conveyor Systems at Span Tech

As the leader in the plastic chain conveyors industry, Span Tech specializes in developing unique, customizable technical solutions for processing applications in a variety of industries. Quite like conveyor systems, we have our own bit of history. Since our launch in 1988, we’ve spent years continuously growing and innovating our process to help better every business we assist. In 2002, we released the SuperTight chain which produced a tighter conveyor turning radius. Four years later, Span Tech created the OutRunner Spiral — a more efficient conveyor that’s easy to clean. In 2015, we developed the 4-Rod Twist conveyor which allows for 90 degrees of product rotation in 60 inches.

1. Poor Customer Service

Think back to the last time you had a negative experience with a store. Maybe you had a question none of the employees could answer. Perhaps you called and were transferred from person to person before getting the assistance you needed. Or, maybe you were made to feel like you were an afterthought and your business wasn’t valued. Sadly, it’s safe to say most people have witnessed poor customer service like this. When you work in the manufacturing industry, experiencing this sort of situation can be detrimental. From receiving incorrect parts on an order to wasting company time on the phone with a representative, poor customer service can severely hurt your business. No matter how great their products might be, companies who treat you this way are sure to lose you as a returning customer.

2. Adequate Customer Service

At Span Tech, we have a saying: “Just enough is never enough.” Sure, adequate customer service is fine, but it only gets consumers so far. How many times have you faced a problem, been assisted by a representative and had your needs met…but only just? While this type of experience will help your business for the time being, it won’t necessarily provide long-term benefits. For example, let’s say you ask a representative a question about a product, and they provide you with an answer. They’ve done their job, the phone call ends and you continue on with your day. While things seem fine on the surface, adequate customer service like this ultimately lacks two things: time and energy. The representative hasn’t made an effort to learn about your manufacturing business, the role their company plays in assisting you or how they can help you succeed.

As a manufacturer, it’s important to focus on the big picture of your company. A big part of that involves having a supplier who understands your challenges, goals and overall mission. As the name suggests, adequate customer service falls short of achieving this for your business.

3. Excellent Customer Service

It’s great when things go right, but excellent customer service does so much more than that. This form of assistance goes above and beyond, while both meeting and surpassing expectations. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you know exactly what this looks like — a kind, helpful, positive interaction that kept your business on the right track.

Ultimately, excellent customer service leaves you feeling listened to, assisted and, above all, valued. It’s exactly what you can expect from the Span Tech team. From the moment you make the first phone call or walk through our doors, you’ll be met with a friendly voice or smile and a genuine desire to serve your business. We believe in serving our customers before, during and after their requirements are met. It’s the sort of treatment you deserve, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Span Tech & PACK EXPO

As a proud industry leader, Span Tech specializes in building durably designed plastic chain conveyors and industry-leading innovation material. We’re passionate about developing unique, customizable technical solutions for a variety of industries to meet their individual needs. With an emphasis on quality and state-of-the-art manufacturing, we’re always staying up to date on the latest in the industry. That’s where PACK EXPO comes into play.

For more than 60 years, PACK EXPO trade shows have been helping a variety of industries advance by connecting consumer goods companies with manufacturing solutions. At Span Tech, we look forward to attending this trade show every year to connect with manufacturers, promote our services and discover the latest innovations in packaging.

PACK EXPO 2019 was held in Las Vegas and received a record turnout of 30,000 packaging professionals and 2,000 of the industry’s top suppliers. Like many other events in 2020, however, this tradeshow will be a bit different as we take proper precautions in light of COVID-19.

2020’s PACK EXPO Connects

Rather than host an in-person PACK EXPO, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI), has decided to make it virtual. Also known as PACK EXPO Connects, the virtual PACK EXPO will be live and web-based. Hosting this event virtually will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and make PACK EXPO more accessible than ever before.

Taking place from Nov. 9-13, PACK EXPO Connects will feature live chats, live equipment demos and engaging educational opportunities. Attendees can expect to see machinery up close and in action through world-class opportunities. From daily jumpstart sessions on hot topics to expert-led education sessions, PACK EXPO 2020 is full of exciting virtual sessions for attendees to benefit from.

Span Tech Demos at PACK EXPO Connects

This year, Span Tech is more excited than ever to be a part of PACK EXPO. We’re hosting a variety of demos featuring some of our top products and key industry tips to help your manufacturing processes. Best of all, when you join any of our live sessions, you’ll be entered to win a $250 Amazon gift card! We’ve listed our demos in chronological order below so you can be sure not to miss them.

Nov. 9: All Things Elevation

From lifting to lowering, our systems change elevation while keeping your product in top shape. No matter what height or depth your product needs to reach, we have the solution that will maximize uptime and ROI. In this demo, we will be talking about all the different solutions that we have for inclining and declining your products.

Products featured in this demo include:

Nov. 11: New Product – EZ Guide Adjustable Guide Rail

Bud Layne, owner of Span Tech LLC, will review and demonstrate the new EZ Guide adjustable guide rail system. This system is a new design which has never been seen before in the marketplace and can solve many of the primary issues that other guide rail systems have. In this session, Bud will show off these features and give a live demonstration of the prototype unit that has been built. You won’t want to miss this as we revolutionize the complications of conveyor guide rails.

Nov. 12: I Wanna Get Technical… Technical

This demonstration will go over several Span Tech products and discuss some of the more technical aspects of what they do, how they work, how they are unique in the market and what advantages they provide.

Products featured in this demo include:

Nov. 13: Product Manipulation

Don’t you hate it when your product comes out of the machine in the wrong orientation? Well, we can help with that. Whether you need rotation, a roll over or flipping, we can do it all! Check out our Product Manipulation demo and see how we can help you get your product in the right orientation precisely when you need it.

Products featured in this demo include:

A Closer Look at The Span Tech Conveyor Design

Before we dive into talking about conveyors, it’s important to distinguish the difference between our modular plastic conveyor chain and the commonly used phrase “conveyor belt.” Often confused as one in the same, the two are quite different. Just as the name suggests, a conveyor “belt” is just that — a belt. It’s a continuous, flat loop of fabric or plastic that transports products in a straight line (with very few exceptions.) Our modular plastic conveyor chain is different than a belt in that it is built from individual interconnecting rows of chain. This type of design can be made to a wide variety of widths and lengths depending on the needs of the application. Additionally, because these rows can collapse with each other, our modular chain has the ability to make curved, twisting, inclining and declining conveyors.

Modular Conveyor Parts and Functions

To get a better understanding of how our modular plastic conveyor chains work, it’s important to know how their parts function together. Span Tech’s unique conveyor design is made up of the following pieces:

Chain

The chain on our modular conveyor is what carries the product from one end to another. Our plastic chain conveyor types are customized for each order and can be made in thousands of variations. They can travel through curves, twists, inclines, declines and more, and they are extremely strong yet flexible.

Drive Unit

The drive unit is what pulls the plastic chain to help keep it in motion. It contains the conveyor’s drive sprockets, drive shaft and gearmotor. Drive units can be located at either end of our modular conveyor or even in the middle.

Idler Unit

Similar to the drive unit in appearance, the idler unit is found at both ends of the modular plastic conveyor chain. Unlike the drive unit, it doesn’t provide power. Instead, it allows the chain to move from the top to the bottom of the conveyor.

Bed Section

Located between the drive and idler units, the bed section is made of a side frame and wear strips. These strips capture the modular plastic conveyor chain and provide a low-friction running surface for it. Bed sections can be straight, curved, angled up or down, twisted or custom-made for just about any special application.

How Does a Modular Conveyor Chain Work?

It’s time we let you in on a little secret: Not all conveyors are created equal. Compared to all the different types of conveyors out there, Span Tech’s modular conveyors offer many unique features that help them stand out. Along with a distinct conveyor design, our products prove to be a cut above the rest with the following qualities:

No Chain Take Up

Thanks to our conveyor design, there is no need for a “catenary,” or chain take up section, to maintain chain tension in the system. All conveyors expand over time, and the total chain length may need to be shortened as a result. While this can be a bit of a hassle with other types of conveyors on the market, Span Tech conveyors are fairly simple to accommodate. Simply remove one or two rows of chain from the system, and you’re good to go. It’s that easy!

Individual Links

Unlike many other types of conveyors, Span Tech’s use individual links to make up the chain. This makes maintenance fairly easy and stress free if you ever have an issue. Rather than replace the entire modular plastic conveyor chain, you can simply repair the necessary parts. You’ll ultimately save money and be spared the headache that comes with investing in a brand new conveyor.

No Tracking Issues

Traditional belts require a system to keep the belt aligned and prevent it from “walking” off of the pulley. In comparison, Span Tech modular plastic conveyor chains don’t need this set up. Why? Our chains are kept in place within the bed section along the entire path of travel. The chain’s sprockets also keep the chain from traveling off of the drive unit.

No Black Residue Buildup

Quite often, a black residue can form after stainless steel rubs against certain plastics. This can leave items passing through the belt looking dirty and unsightly. You’ll never have to worry about this with our modular plastic conveyor chains. Span Tech’s stainless steel rods use a proprietary coating which prevents rubbing and eliminates black residue buildup.

Span Tech’s Conveyor Safety Rules

According to the United States Department of Labor, conveyors are the primary source of more than 50 workplace fatalities each year. In the unfortunate event that your staff members get injured (or worse) on the job, your company can face legal issues, worker’s comp and other liabilities. Not to mention, your plant can lose out on valuable production time. The best way to keep your team free from harm is by practicing conveyor safety. The Span Tech experts are here to help keep your staff injury-free with the following conveyor safety tips for manufacturing plants.

1. Don’t Sit, Stand or Walk on Conveyors

While this first conveyor safety rule may seem like common sense, it can lead to serious injury if it isn’t followed. People ride conveyors because they don’t realize just how grave the danger can be. Whether they’ve seen it in action movies or they just think it sounds fun, the reality of riding a conveyor is quite unsafe. The main reasoning behind this is because conveyors aren’t designed to hold a human’s weight. They also have pinch points which can catch onto people and cause injuries. Additionally, when people ride conveyors, they can cause the belts to un-track or damage the system. As a result, it’s imperative that your staff never climbs, sits, stands, walks, rides or touches the conveyor line.

2. Refrain from Modifying or Misusing Conveyor Controls

Unqualified personnel should never attempt to modify or disconnect conveyor controls. When this happens, it can create a less safe working environment and put your team at risk. Conveyor controls are part of a larger system, so any changes should be approved by management. Be sure to monitor your controls to ensure no staff member has misused, modified or disconnected them.

3. Follow Lock Out, Tag Out (LOTO) Procedures

LOTO is a very important procedure used in manufacturing settings. It involves making sure dangerous machines like conveyors are properly shut off and not able to be started up again before maintenance is completed. If you fail to do this, your employees are subject to life-threatening injuries. To help your team follow this conveyor safety rule, we recommend appropriately training them and explaining its importance.

4. Keep Loose Items Away From Conveyors

From watches and rings to baggy clothing, it’s crucial for your team to avoid wearing loose items on the job. Pinch points can catch loose items if they’re worn near a conveyor, resulting in serious injury. A great way to implement this conveyor safety rule is to inspect staff members before allowing them near the conveyor line.

5. Alert Management of Any Potential Safety Concerns

If your employees notice a potential hazard on the job, it’s crucial for them to inform management so the issue can be resolved. The main goal should always be to spot and deal with unsafe practices, equipment or people as soon as possible. Employees will be more likely to come forward if you allow them to provide anonymous or non-consequential information submissions.

6. Utilize OSHA Emergency Stops

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), emergency stop requirements for safe conveyor operations are as follows:

1. Means for stopping the motor or engine shall be provided at the operator’s station. Conveyor systems shall be equipped with an audible warning signal to be sounded immediately before starting up the conveyor.
2. If the operator’s station is at a remote point, similar provisions for stopping the motor or engine shall be provided at the motor or engine location.
3. Emergency stop switches shall be arranged so that the conveyor cannot be started again until the actuating stop switch has been reset to running or “on” position.

7. Make Conveyor Safety Training a Priority

Reviewing our conveyor safety rules with your team will help them avoid injuries on the job and keep your plant running smoothly. Provide frequent updates and refresher courses to ensure your employees know the latest on conveyor safety. Whenever your plant has visitors, they should always be informed of conveyor safety standards, as well. Above all, make the notion of preventing unsafe acts part of your company culture.