Technology & Design 6th Form Visit Emerson Cookstown

Technology & Design 6th Form Visit Emerson Cookstown

Rainey Visit Emerson Cookstown

 

 

Sometimes it is difficult to fully appreciate the finer details of an Industrial process in the classroom. Sometimes, books and online resources just don’t seem to do the trick. Sometimes, only seeing is truly believing.  So whenever a world class manufacturing facility invites you through its doors to see what they do we jump at the chance.

 

Today Rainey sixth form pupils were delighted to be the guests of Emerson in Cookstown. A manufacturing facility on our door step specialising in the production of world leading scroll compressors.

 

You may never have heard of scroll compressors but you rely on them almost every day for efficient industrial refrigeration. Large supermarkets depend on these compressors to maintain constant low temperature in the refrigerated aisles and countless commercial premises will have air conditioning units with these scroll compressors at the heart of their system.

 

We were met and guided by Kenny Robinson who shared with us some details of the company before leading us around the manufacturing lines.

 

We saw how Emerson has embraced a very lean manufacturing process, striping out all but the essential work required to be carried out. In doing so they have an extremely efficient facility allowing them to stay ahead of the stiff competition from across the globe.

 

As flexible manufacturing systems like the Robotic arms towered over head we snaked through the production lines seeing how the compressors came together. At every turn we saw processes that we have learned about, but not seen, in class making the visit invaluable. One of the most memorable demonstrations was how welding can be achieved through friction. A brass component was spun at 6000 rpm before being pushed into a receiving casing. On impact the instant heat produced from the friction instantly bonded the parts together. A small part of the process but an amazing one to witness.

 

We learned too of the many business and financial decisions faced by the company. Where to store inventory, how and when to order materials, staffing issues and equipment costs were all shared with us Kanban, and Just-In-Time methodologies were rigorously in place and adhered to. Workers throughput was also constantly monitored.

Currently Emerson in Cookstown are producing more than 1 compressor per minute. That’s one per minute, 24 hours per day, five days a week. In a company where every imaginable step is taken to save time we are extremely grateful for the huge amount of time that was given over today to facilitate our visit.  Rainey Endowed wishes to thank all the staff at Emerson for making this visit possible especially Mr Robinson and Rainey past pupil, Adele Caskey for her behind the scenes organisation.

 

To all, thank you.

 

Mr Palmer