The Power To Be Green

Wire and cable manufacturers face a perennial issue: How can they honor their green commitment to reduce energy use while increasing productivity?

Companies that have invested in CableBuilder and CableMES software have discovered that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and growing productivity need not be mutually exclusive. So how exactly is UL Solutions helping these forward-thinking companies? Through bespoke cable manufacturing and design software, CableBuilder and CableMES shine a light on the most inefficient practices in a factory at two critical stages of the manufacturing process — design and production.

Design

CableBuilder’s ability to create sophisticated digital twinning of wire and cable allows for a much leaner use of materials. It presents the opportunity to test different models to be then able to identify which is most fit for purpose and, critically, all before committing to the costs of production. It also supports the extended lifespan of a product, a feature that significantly appeals to cable and wire customers and custodians of the environment.

Production

Scrap and rework are the costliest inefficiencies within the factory environment. Creating the most robust and sophisticated cable design through CableBuilder is only part of the equation. Companies extending their investment to include a manufacturing execution system, such as CableMES, clearly understand the impact quality and non-conformance issues can have when they hit the production schedule. CableMES’ automated quality recordings and real-time alarms allow immediate response to such issues.

At a more strategic level, phasing out inefficient machines and factories can only be achieved through regular monitoring and benchmarking. CableMES allows operators to build a picture of the best and worst performing machinery across their factories, helping them to make informed choices about where to scale up production.

An integrated resource management approach presents the best opportunity to minimize waste. CableBuilder, CableMES and their integration with any ERP system present the most robust application of its kind to cable manufacturers across the globe.