Barbara Kanegsberg, Author at BFK Solutions LLC

May 2023

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at May 2023

Chemophobia

It’s an emergency! Regulators decide that the cleaning agent is unsafe for workers, neighborhoods, and/or the environment. Manufacturers are faced with the capital costs, testing, and performance verification associated with finding a substitute chemical and changing an established effective cleaning process. Within a few years, there’s another emergency. Regulators decide […]

August 2022

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at August 2022

The Power of Hydrogen: pH and Aqueous Cleaning Agents

We all know that “oil and water don’t mix,” that like dissolves like. We’ve heard statements that solvents (organic solvents) work for non-polar soils while water works for salts. Critical product cleaning, like life, is complex; and the range of soils even for a given manufacturing situation are more varied. […]

July 2022

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at July 2022

Supply Chains and Critical Cleaning

If you are involved in manufacturing, if you are part of a supply chain, rugged critical cleaning processes will improve your productivity and profitability. You may be an OEM, a job shop, even a repair/rework facility. You may be the ultimate customer and have little or no direct contact with […]

January 2022

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at January 2022

How to Automate Critical Product Cleaning – Whether or not you ever automate

If you plan to automate the cleaning process, explore some factors that are key to successful automation. Your reward will be economical automation that does what you need it to do. If you never, ever expect to automate the cleaning process, you, too, will achieve more rugged, reliable manufacturing by […]

September 2021

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at September 2021

Manual cleaning or automated cleaning – Which is better?

As the cleaning expert, I’m asking you. Which is better, manual or automated cleaning? An automated process may allow the manufacturer to demonstrate consistency or precision, but the process may not be the correct one for the application. If the manufacturer does not have a defined cleaning goal, it is […]

August 2021

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at August 2021

How to Surf on a Tsunami – Part 1

Product manufacturing and product cleaning is like surfing on a Tsunami. It takes courage, intelligence, planning, and knowing the right time to act. How do you surf on a Tsunami? First, be aware that it exists. Next, figure out if it is heading toward your company, directly or indirectly. Many […]

July 2021

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at July 2021

Getting Product Designers to Design Stuff that Manufacturers Can Clean

Picture a new product. It’s a thing of beauty – miniature ( about 10% the size of the current product), lightweight, uses new alloys, polymers, coatings. It combines 3D printed metal with convoluted surfaces and traditional assembly. Marketing has rolled out a stellar campaign, promising high reliability at low cost. […]

June 2021

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at June 2021

Life Forms in Process Baths

Microbes could be growing in your cleaning process bath. Minimize unwanted microbes to achieve a more consistent, productive manufacturing process. Those of you not involved in producing pharmaceuticals or in final assembly of medical devices may think microbial contamination doesn’t apply. Think again! Let’s consider conditions that you and I […]

March 2021

Published by Barbara Kanegsberg at March 2021

Fascinating Botanicals, Challenging Residue

In contrast with animals, plants don’t poop. While plants may release volatile chemicals, like pheromones and fragrances, more often they produce and store a wide variety of complex compounds. These chemicals may be useful not only to the plants themselves but also to people. Refined plant materials or extracts are […]