1. VISION, EXPERIENCE, ANSWERS FOR INDUSTRY
ARC VIEW
AUGUST 18, 2011
Without standards, high-volume, and
high-throughput CPG manufacturers’
packaging operations will become
increasingly difficult to maintain or
improve.
The reinvigorated OMAC Packaging
Working Group, headed by Bryan Griffen
of Nestle, represents a major step
forward toward development and
adoption of global packaging machine
standards.
Re-invigorated OMAC Packaging Working
Group Needs Your Participation
By John Blanchard
Summary
More than 45 people from across five time zones participated in the OMAC
Packaging Working Group webcast meeting, held on August 4, 2011. Bry-
an Griffen, E&A Group Manager at Nestle, who
currently services as the OMAC Packaging Group
Chair, led the meeting with assistance from Tom
Egan of PMMI and John Kowal of B&R Automa-
tion. The meeting’s purpose was to explain and
discuss the group’s initiatives and to seek volun-
teers interested in actively supporting these
initiatives. Bryan explained the importance of
packaging machinery standards to Nestle and in-
dicated that the company is moving forward to put
PackML in its User Requirement Specification (as
P&G and other CPG companies have already done.
Before actually discussing the initiatives, Bryan explained that the group
plans to have three face-to-face meetings each year. These will be at Pack
Expo in October-November, the ARC Advisory Group World Industry Fo-
rum in February, and a midyear meeting in Europe. He also plans to hold
bi-monthly teleconference meetings. A number of people began volunteer-
ing even before the specific initiatives were even discussed.
OMAC Packaging Working Group Initiatives
The new or re-launched initiatives or working groups are PackML, Pack-
Connect, PackSafe, PackSoft, PackAdvantage, PackSpec, PackAdopt,
PackAbility, and PackLearn.
• The PackML working group responsibilities include harmonizing
PackML 3.0 with ISA TR88.00.02 and include the MES definitions in this

2. ARC View, Page 2
©2011 ARC • 3 Allied Drive • Dedham, MA 02026 USA • 781-471-1000 • ARCweb.com
effort, and expand the effort to include development of an OEE cost
savings calculator. The group is also responsible for coordinating addi-
tional PackML workshops with PMMI events and promoting the user
implementation guide. Rob Aleksa reminded the group to check out
the updated PackML Wikipedia page.
• The PackConnect working group
responsibilities include investigat-
ing the applicability of recent
network initiatives or standards ef-
forts to improve machine and line
performance. These include wire-
less Ethernet, MT Connect, network
security (ISA S99), and machine
safety, as well as reaching out to
other network standards organiza-
tions.
• The PackSafe working group, a newly formed subcommittee of the
PackConnect working group, is responsible for investigating the ap-
plicability an IEC-compliant open safety protocol and coordinating
these activities with PMMI safety resources and activities.
• The PackSoft working group is responsible for investigating potential
adoption of the latest OPC UA and PLCopen developments, as well as
looking into the feasibility of other emerging technologies such as UML
(Unified Modeling Language), simulation, and automatic code genera-
tion.
• The PackAdvantage working group is responsible for promoting the
business benefits of the PackML standard. This includes promoting an
OMAC-developed tool that companies can use to help justify and apply
PackML, such as the soon-to-be-developed OEE/PackML cost saving
calculator. It is also responsible for coordinating the ongoing effort of
the PackML World Tour, during which OEMs that support PackML
meet with ends users to present the business benefits and discuss ways
each party can increase deployment of the PackML standard. For fur-
ther information, or to participate in the PackML World Tour, readers
can contact John Kowal at john.kowal@br-automation.com.
PackML Development Timeline

3. ARC View, Page 3
©2011 ARC • 3 Allied Drive • Dedham, MA 02026 USA • 781-471-1000 • ARCweb.com
• The PackAdopt working group, a newly formed subcommittee of the
PackAdvantage working group, is responsible for achieving worldwide
adoption of the OMAC Packaging Working Group initiatives by work-
ing with other packaging associations around the world. These would
include SCIPAG-EMBALCO in France, VDMA in Germany, UCIMA in
Italy, and PPMA in the United Kingdom.
• The PackSpec working group is charged with further refining and sim-
plifying the OMAC Packaging Implementation Guidelines and
developing a more unified, vendor-neutral functional specification
based on international standards to maximize compatibility and in-
teroperability. The guidelines must also include information on
requirements that cannot be standardized, such as international electri-
cal codes and wiring specifications.
• The PackAbility working group is responsible for developing more sus-
tainable and standardized approaches to machine design and
sustainability metrics and monitoring, in addition to promoting sus-
tainability and energy efficiency in packaging machinery and
packaging operations. This includes developing a practical method for
measuring total packaging system carbon footprint and, in conjunction
with PMMI, investigating the applicability of such standards as
ISO5001 and the evolving US Machine EnergyStar program.
• Although not discussed at the meeting, the PackLearn working group is
responsible for working with educational and training institutes to
promote development of PackML training courses.
Readers wishing to participate in any of these initiatives should contact
Bryan Griffen at bryan.griffen@rdor.nestle.com or Tom Egan at TE-
gan@pmmi.org.
PackML Adoption Increasing
Adoption and deployment of PackML-based machines is proceeding at a
continually increasing pace. With increasing support from major global
consumer goods companies and machine builders, ARC expects to see even
more rapid adoption over the next few years. CPG company supporters
include Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Frito-Lay, SABMiller, and Arla Foods.
Machine builders include ADCO Manufacturing, Pearson Packaging Sys-

4. ARC View, Page 4
©2011 ARC • 3 Allied Drive • Dedham, MA 02026 USA • 781-471-1000 • ARCweb.com
tems, Pro Mach, Inc., and Ilapak. Recognizing the importance of machine
automation and machine automation standards, Tom Egan, Vice Present of
Industry Services at PMMI, leads the effort to work with other packaging
associations to further adoption of global packaging automation standards.
Conclusion
Without standards, CPG manufacturers’ high-volume, high-throughput
packaging operations will become increasingly difficult to maintain or im-
prove. As CPG manufacturers deploy a wider variety of machines from
more machine builders across the globe, support costs will continue to rise.
It will also become increasingly difficult for manufacturers to achieve more
consistent product quality and throughput and respond effectively to con-
stantly changing retailer requirements. Early-adopting machine builders
recognize that PackML has provided them with a strategic competitive ad-
vantage over their “wait and see” competitors.
The reinvigorated OMAC Packaging Working Group represents a welcome
major step forward toward the development and adoption of global pack-
aging machine standards.
For further information or to provide feedback on this article, please contact your
account manager or the author at jblanchard@arcweb.com. ARC Views are pub-
lished and copyrighted by ARC Advisory Group. The information is proprietary to
ARC and no part of it may be reproduced without prior permission from ARC.