I read a great piece in the most recent issue of Food Engineering today. In his Editor’s Note, Casey Laughman introduces the latest issue as FE’s first “Innovation Issue”. While just an introduction to the rest of the magazine and the innovations they are spotlighting, Casey correctly points out that while the COVID pandemic has
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In a recent discussion with one of our members regarding the 180 Skills online training program, they asked a very basic question. As we had developed 24 different Learning Paths for the program, did they have to follow these Paths for their training program, or could they pick and choose the courses that best suited
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In a recent discussion about the FPSA Auction, a very loyal member asked how we will hold the event without our members’ actual presence as the Annual Conference (where we usually hold the Auction) has been cancelled due to COVID. Maybe we should postpone the Auction until next year? Given the wide variety of causes
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I recently came across an interesting report from the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP). This Manufacturing 2021 Industry Report provides an interesting glimpse of the manufacturing sector in New Jersey and what it looks like as we move out of the pandemic. Now, it’s not because I’m from New Jersey that I raise this,
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In a recent conversation with a friend, we discussed our sons’ upcoming college graduations and career plans following that happy day. It was at that moment that I was brought down to earth when I remembered that Patrick’s internship last summer had been canceled due to COVID. As a result, my son will be leaving
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Have you wondered why more food plants aren’t engaged in Industry 4.0? When the FPSA Technology Network came into being two years ago, the very first issue that the group started to address was the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) or what we are now referring to as Industry 4.0. While no one would ever
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This afternoon, I read a great piece on training by Casey Laughman of Food Engineering Magazine, and how huge changes have happened seemingly overnight, thanks to the pandemic and our limitations on traveling and gathering in groups. The article talks about how companies like JLS Automation, Alchemy, and Thermal Fluid Solutions are leveraging innovative technologies
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As we start this new year, I can’t help but be excited as we move forward into what we all hope will be a new, more stable normal. With vaccines now being administered, there is hope that we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if we still have
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In a recent piece on Food Industry Executive, there was an interesting article on the four mega-trends that will define the food industry in 2021. I don’t think it will surprise those of us in the industry that plant-based food and beverages are expected to continue their impressive growth and expansion into a wide range
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By Andy Drennan, FPSA Senior Vice President. 46% – It’s a number that leaves me shaking my head. In baseball, that would be a Hall of Fame batting average, but this isn’t baseball. It’s money. And it’s kids, and if my two sons in college were eligible for the Career Development Scholarship Program (they’re not)
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