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“Reusable” Containers — A Term Sustainability Experts Love

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Experts reveal adopting sustainable living could help the world cut greenhouse emissions by up to 70% by 2050. Reusable or returnable containers, such as supply chain totes and containers, are among the most sustainable packaging available today that can help you reduce your carbon footprint. Recent studies estimate that reusable containers like those Flexcon provides cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60% by eliminating the need to recycle or remanufacture single-use packaging. 

What Is a Reusable Container?

Reusable or returnable packaging is a supply chain container used over many trips and has a prolonged lifespan. These containers are usually molded or fabricated corrugated plastics and are highly durable. They allow ease of use and cleaning while providing an option for repair. The containers are also collapsible or nestable to allow for inexpensive transit and storage when empty. Some of the common types of reusable Flexcon containers include:

  • Handheld totes.
  • Plastic bulk containers.
  • Pallets.
  • Shipping racks.
  • Dunnage. 

How Reusable Containers Boost Sustainability Efforts

No doubt, reusable containers play an integral role in minimizing the environmental impact of supply chain operations. The following are some of the ways reusable containers can boost sustainable order fulfillment efforts:

  • Reduced carbon emissions:  A returnable supply chain container can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. When your business requires constant shipment of products between factory sites and final destinations, single-use corrugated packaging results in a massive accumulation of waste materials in landfills. On the other hand, returnable packaging reduces raw material consumption while minimizing carbon dioxide emissions by facilitating stacking and efficient space use during transportation. A recent study estimates recycling reusable containers for 30 years reduces emissions by 5.5-6.02 gigatons of carbon dioxide. This figure is equivalent to removing more than 1 billion cars off the streets for one year. 
  • Reduced solid waste: Reusable containers such as totes and RSC boxes eliminate thousands of single-use packaging items from getting into a landfill, reducing solid waste by up to 86%.
  • Lower energy consumption: The energy used to manufacture reusable containers is lower than what’s necessary to manufacture single-use packaging items. This is because reusable containers last long, thereby cutting the manufacturing rate.
  • Lower water consumption: Single-use packaging systems use four times more water compared to reusable packaging. The high usage is because of heavy water use during manufacture, recycling, and disposal.
  • Recycling at the end of life: Reusable containers are circular, allowing for the full recovery of packaging materials at the end of their useful life. This ensures the materials are recycled and reused in producing new reusable packaging.

Benefits of Reusable Packaging Beyond Sustainability

Apart from the widely known environmental benefits, there are several business reasons why you should consider using returnable containers. These include:

  • Faster return on investment: Despite their high upfront investment, reusable containers deliver a faster return on investment. The quicker ROI is due to a lower cost per trip than the single-use option. In a nutshell, the cost per trip is much lower than the cost of purchasing new expandable packaging each time. It is estimated that businesses that opt for reusable containers save between 40 to 70% on the overall costs.
  • Enhances productivity: Reusable totes and containers offer vast productivity benefits. They improve ease of use while ensuring more accessibility of items to production line staff. The workers leverage dividers to allow for multiple parts to be handled in a single container.
  • Reduces damage: Reusable containers are made from robust materials to protect products and parts throughout the supply chain, translating to lower costs related to written-off stock.
  • Improves space efficiency: Collapsible and nestable containers can improve space efficiency in storage and transit. Nestable containers stack on their lids or over fold-out bail-arms, allowing them to nest on each other, saving up to 75% of space. 

Types of Products Included in the Reusable Ecosystem.

Several types of reusable containers are for companies looking to increase efficiencies and contribute to a sustainable order fulfillment supply chain. Some common types of reusable products include:

Applications of Reusable Containers in the Supply Chain

Reusable containers have their applications in both commercial and household spectrums. In the commercial area, the containers are widely used in transporting raw materials to processing units and transporting finished products to warehouses and consumers. Among the industries that typically make use of these containers are:

  • Food and drink industry.
  • Cosmetics. 
  • Chemical industry.
  • Electronics and computer manufacturers and assemblers.
  • Aerospace.
  • Textiles and clothing.
  • Pharmaceuticals. 
  • Any industry needing bulk storage/transport.

Features of Reusable Containers From Flexcon

The following are some of the features of reusable containers from Flexcon.

Heavy-duty construction: Our containers can withstand constant rigors in various automated systems. Made from corrugated plastic, they withstand rust, corrosion, and water damage.

Adjustable dividers: Our containers are available with adjustable dividers to maximize versatility while optimizing picking, sorting, and packaging operations.

Versatile designs: They are compatible with most automated inserter/extractor and conveyor systems in ASRS.

Pitched drain holes: The containers have pitched drain holes for ease of cleaning. The holes also ensure water drains out to prevent the collapse of the automated storage and retrieval system when sprinklers are on.

Optional lids: Optional lids are available to secure and protect your products in transit. 

Contact Flexcon Today for Reusable Containers

Reusable packaging systems play an integral role in minimizing the environmental impact of supply chains. These containers provide users with long, useful life in a truly circular model. Flexcon is a world-renowned manufacturer and supplier of reusable containers designed to meet the unique sustainable order fulfillment needs of every industry. 

We aim to promote sustainability by enabling a circular economy for flexible packaging. All our products are polypropylene, which resists extreme temperatures and reduces carbon emissions. The containers are also recyclable at the end of their life and returned to productive use rather than entering the landfill. 

We leverage cutting-edge technologies and techniques to design and deliver returnable containers that meet FDA standards and your specific needs. Custom designs, layouts, and sizes are available. Dealer inquiries are welcome. If you have further questions or want to order something that meets your sustainable fulfillment order needs, contact us today.

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Smart Unified Building Systems

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Since their introduction in the early 2000s, smart commercial tech has continually evolved and improved to provide today’s unified buildings (sometimes called smart buildings). However, designing a system that can automatically adapt to changing occupant loads, foot traffic, and climate controls has proven difficult but possible. The biggest challenges involve connecting multiple systems into a singular monitoring platform and the limited functionality of smart technology applications available on the property.

But, with the constant improvement in building automation systems (BAS), combined with emerging features such as the Building Internet of Things (BIoT), the vision of a unified building is much closer than you realize. Today it’s possible to connect and integrate all your devices, components, and systems to a singular platform for real-time monitoring and adjustments based on changing occupant needs.

Creating a Unified Building System

Depending on your business or industry, your commercial space can utilize more than two dozen different systems, potentially created by up to two dozen other manufacturers. As a result, system integrators and facilities managers using a single platform often need help to incorporate different systems together.

  • Power
  • Plumbing
  • Ventilation
  • Security
  • Public Safety
  • Communication
  • Mechanized systems

Further complicating the process are millions of existing buildings with outdated legacy systems or incompatible systems. With today’s improved sensor technology and a network of embedded sensors (installed during renovation or maintenance work), many older properties can begin to share the benefits of a unified building system. Architects, designers, and contractors should consider technology and products such as:

  • Smart power optimization and regulation
  • Predictive building maintenance
  • Mobile, touchless, and facial recognition systems
  • Occupancy sensors
  • Visitor navigation and wayfinding
  • Smart ventilation and lighting systems

And while full integration won’t happen for some time, those commercial properties that have integrated unified building systems report saving time and money while providing a better experience for tenants and visitors, such as:

  • Stronger security
  • Reduced energy usage
  • Fewer maintenance chores
  • Improved space utilization

Unified Buildings Offer Stronger Security

Facilities managers can incorporate smart technologies to reduce the need for, and the risk to, human security guards while providing a safe and secure environment for tenants or occupants.

BIoT will improve and streamline access control options by leveraging facial recognition systems. As a result, intrusions, attacks, or emergencies can be dealt with quickly and effectively. Additionally, these technologies can distinguish artificial from natural threats, start the evacuation process, and notify the first responders while protecting and monitoring the building’s infrastructure.

Unified Controls Reduce Energy Usage

Occupancy sensors can turn off lights and adjust thermostats when a room or building area is unoccupied. But why stop there?

When integrated with BIoT and AI, a facility manager can identify the peak and off-peak energy costs and adjust additional options, such as shades or screens, to further control lighting and ventilation systems.

Scheduled Maintenance Results in Fewer Chores

Smart buildings can sort and organize real-time data using AI and BIoT to quickly recognize potential issues within infrastructure elements, including public safety, plumbing, and power systems.

Other systems allow facility managers and techs to receive notices when a component requires maintenance, repairs, or replacement. Some programs utilize algorithms to predict servicing or repairs based on usage and performance trends. In comparison, others can automatically order the parts or schedule the repairs from a predetermined vendor list. As a result, a unified building typically avoids the usual breakdowns, downtime, and emergency repair costs compared to buildings with legacy systems in place.

Improved Space Utilization

Thanks to sensor technology, a manager can easily track the actual number of people utilizing a space over an extended time frame or a singular event.

Or by examining foot traffic data, a retail location can make truly informed decisions regarding fixture placement and merchandising options.

Virtually any commercial business or service provider can use this technology to provide a better customer experience, including:

  • Restaurants
  • Hotels/resorts
  • Transportation
  • Medical services
  • Theatres
  • Shopping centers
  • Offices
  • Public buildings

The technology is easily scalable, meaning the systems utilized in a small retail location can also serve a high-rise office building.

The Future of Unified Buildings

As facility managers continue to address new challenges from environmental initiatives, new legislation, and ever-changing consumer demand, those integrating BAS, AI, and the BIoT will be able to achieve the goals of reduced energy consumption and lower operating costs.

And while some compatibility concerns do remain, consumer demand for unified buildings that are safer, more comfortable, and less expensive to operate continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

Learn more about the revolutions  Gridd® Adaptive Cabling Distribution® System from FreeAxez.

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7 Basic Functions of Text Analytics & Text Mining

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Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Text Analytics are branches of artificial intelligence (AI) that help derive insights from text-based data.

It helps explore how each of them will help know the features of natural language processing. Also referred to as text mining, text analytics contributes to the computer science discipline, which is the combination of natural language processing and machine learning. It helps in drawing the meaning from different unstructured text documents. In this article, you will find information about the seven basic functions of text mining and text analytics. This article will help you to get a clear overview of text analytics services and text mining services before you opt for them.

Text analytics engine is known to break down different phrases and sentences before it analyzes anything. Breaking down unstructured text documents into specific components contributes to being an initial step in each NLP feature, including theme extraction, entity recognition, and sentiment analysis.

You should remember that there are seven basic steps involved in the preparation of the unstructured text document to ensure in-depth analysis, which are inclusive of syntax parsing, chunking, parts of the speech tagging, sentence breaking, tokenization, language identification, sentence chaining, to name a few. You should understand that every step is procured between pure software rules and pure machine learning on a wider spectrum.

  • Language identification

The NLP feature stack and text analytics technology of Lexalytics reveal the processing layers. So, every document undergoes transformation to be changed into structured data. The initial step in text analytics is the recognition of the language in which the text is written. Every language comes with its own set of idiosyncrasies.

You should remember that language identification helps in determining the different processes for each text analytics function. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that this sub-function is proper. Lexalytics provides support to 25 different languages, spanning the plethora of alphabets.

  • Tokenization

The majority of text analytics systems depend on different rules-based algorithms, which are useful in tokening different alphabetic languages. But, logographic languages need the use of complicated machine-learning algorithms. Once you are aware of the language in which the text is present, you will be capable of breaking it into different pieces.

You should remember that tokens are recognized as the individual units you are trying to operate. They are known to be phonemes, words, and full sentences. Tokenization contributes to the process to break the text document. Tokens are known to be the only words in text analytics.

The sentence of every ten words comprises ten tokens. Speaking of deeper analytics, it is beneficial in expanding the definition of the token. Such tokens are inclusive of hyperlinks, punctuation, words, and possessive marketers. Tokenization is known to be language-specific. Every language comes with its own set of tokenization needs. The majority of alphabetic languages adopt straightforward conventions, which help in breaking sentences, phrases, and words.

  • Sentence breaking

With the identification of the tokens, you will be capable of telling where the sentences are ending. You should check whether the punctuation is ending in the last sentence. Before you execute the in-depth text analytics functions, you will be capable of telling where the boundaries are present in the sentence. At times, it is a simpler process. There are a plethora of communication channels that are challenging to break down.

  • Parts of the speech tagging

After recognizing and tokenizing the text document language, it is essential to break down different sentences. After this, it is necessary to tag it. Parts of speech tagging contribute to the process to determine different parts of the speech present in the document’s token and tagging it.

Text Analysts make use of PoS tagging, which helps in figuring out if the specific token is the representation of the common noun and the proper noun. Besides this, you need to find if the specific token is the representation of the adjective or verb.

  • Chunking

It is essential to move out to the text analytics function, which is referred to as Chunking. Chunking contributes to the range of different sentence-breaking systems, which are known to splinter the sentence into different component phrases.

  • Syntax parsing

The sub-function syntax parsing contributes to being the option, which helps in determining the sentence structure. Syntax parsing is all about the fancy talk for sentence diagramming. However, it is considered a vital preparatory step to perform sentiment analysis and different natural language processing features.

There are different business enterprises that make use of unsupervised machine learning models, depending on complicated matrix factorization and input words. It helps in understanding the syntax.

  • Sentence chaining

Sentence chaining happens to be the last step that helps prepare the unstructured text to ensure in-depth analysis. There is a wide assortment of business organizations, which use the technique referred to as lexical chaining. It helps in connecting different sentences.

The companies are known to chain the individual links sentences by the association strength of every strength to the whole topic. As the sentences appear in different paragraphs along with the document, you should remember that the lexical chain flows through the document. It is useful to the machine in detecting and diagnosing the overarching topics, thereby quantifying the complete feel.

With the withdrawal of the associations between different sentences, you should perform complicated analyses, such as contrasting and comparing the sentiment scores. It helps in generating long document summaries accurately.

Summary

Natural language processing and text analytics are regarded as ultra-complicated computer science functions, which well-trained data analysts understand. Text analytics contribute to the discipline of computer science, which combines natural language processing and machine learning, which helps in seeking the prerequisite meaning from different unstructured text documents. By utilizing data analytics services, which include all data-related solutions like text analytics and text mining, businesses can acquire insightful information about consumer feedback, market trends, and other crucial information to make data-driven decisions.

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Common Mistakes When Making A Medical Case Study

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Medical Case Studies are reports describing patients with a disease, disorder, or medical condition. This type of report is often used in academic and industry-based research to publish research findings and determine how best to treat a patient. However, before you start, it’s essential that you avoid common mistakes when learning how to write a case study in medicine.

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Not Including Enough Info

One of the most common mistakes made when writing a medical case study is not including enough information about the patient. In order to provide an accurate description of the patient’s condition, it’s important to include their age, gender, and any other relevant information such as the case study method used. Failing to provide this information can make it difficult for readers to understand your writing.

Including Irrelevant Info

Another common mistake when writing a case study example is to include irrelevant information in the report. While it’s important to ensure you provide detailed information about the patient this shouldn’t be at the expense of providing enough detail to justify your findings and recommendations for treatment. Ensure there is an appropriate balance between these two concepts so that your case study research can be understood easily.

Writing A Report Too Long Or Too Short

One of the most common mistakes in a medical case study is either writing too long or too short. If your report is too long then it’s likely to lose the interest of your readers, while if it’s too short this could mean you haven’t provided enough evidence to justify your findings. Try to strike a balance between these two extremes so that you can provide an accurate report while maintaining the interest of your readers.

Including Inappropriate Language

To ensure your medical case study is an accurate description of research it’s important to avoid including inappropriate language. This should always be professional and written in a way that ensures anyone can understand the text. While you may be familiar with a particular medical term this doesn’t mean other people will share this knowledge, so try to avoid medical jargon where possible.

Not Including References To Citing Sources

Before you start your medical case study, it’s essential that you do plenty of research into the topic to ensure all of your information is accurate, up-to-date, and relevant. When writing an academic report it’s important to include references for all of your content so that your readers can refer to the source material if they want. Not including references is one of the most common mistakes made when writing a medical case study and could result in your work being rejected by academic journals.

Writing Too Much About One Topic

When writing a medical case study it’s important to cover your topic in depth while ensuring that you provide enough detail for your work to be understood easily. While focusing on one aspect may make for an interesting read if you don’t move on to another topic then this can start to bore the reader, so try to keep it balanced.

Writing A Biased Report

One of the most common mistakes made when writing any report is to include biased content, but this mistake is even more common when writing a medical case study. This can often be due to the fact that the author may be emotionally attached to the patient and their condition, which can bias the findings of your research and reports. To avoid this it’s important to ensure you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your report before you start writing and to remain objective throughout the writing process.

Including No Discussion Of Limitations

When writing a medical case study it’s important to include a section on the limitations of your work. While you may have conducted thorough research and provided a lot of information this doesn’t mean that your findings can be applied to everyone, so always discuss how applicable they are to other patients who have been diagnosed with the same condition. This will help to ensure that your work is seen as credible by other academics.

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Not Writing The Report In The Correct Format

It’s important to ensure that your work is in the right medical case study format so it can easily be read and understood. If your report is written using complicated sentence structures then this could put readers off reading the full report, which means they may just look at the abstract or table of contents instead.

If you need to make a case study presentation, Venngage is a great choice.

Not Properly Proofreading Your Work

One of the most common mistakes made when writing any type of report is not properly proofreading your work. This can lead to errors which can impact the accuracy of your findings and make it difficult for readers to understand your work. Always take the time to thoroughly check your work for errors before submitting it for publication.

In Conclusion

Making these common mistakes can have a negative impact on the quality of your Medical Case Study. By avoiding these mistakes you can ensure that your work is accurate and easy to understand, making it more likely to be accepted for publication.

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