Jim Bresler, Director of Food and Beverage Product Management, Plex
Automation has penetrated and streamlined almost every corner of our economy, and food processing is no exception. However, the food and beverage industry continues to lag behind other industries that have fully embraced the potential of automation and robotics to transform and alleviate processing challenges.
Research shows that over the past five years, Food and beverage industry automation investment lags other industries, Logistics & Fulfillment, Automotive & Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and more. In addition to external factors such as inflation, skilled labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions, organizations struggle with internal challenges such as balancing quality and growth, worker retention, using and understanding data, and integrating new technologies. doing. The use of automation and robotics can help solve these internal and external challenges.
Factors such as inflation, labor shortages, sustainability requirements, and the desire to improve quality and output all support increased automation in food processing. Rising inflation has increased input costs in food processing, including higher prices for labor, materials, and energy. In addition to labor costs, labor shortages in the food processing industry remain a concern. 627,000 Unfilled manufacturing jobs across the United States.with the present Expected impact Labor shortages cast a shadow over manufacturing and pose productivity challenges for the foreseeable future.
Consumers are increasingly demanding products that are sustainably sourced and produced, which can impact manufacturing operations. According to the latest reports, 42% of consumers We consider sustainability when making purchasing decisions, an increase of 18 points from last year. 54% of those consumers We believe that food manufacturers have the biggest role to play in providing sustainable products. In addition to consumer interests, regulatory factors are increasingly driving increased sustainability in food manufacturing, which has the potential to disrupt industry processes and compliance.
While external concerns remain a factor, food manufacturers also cite internal priorities such as improving quality and profitable growth. Key fundamental keys to success in the industry. Organizations are beginning to realize the potential of automation and robotics to significantly impact production by increasing productivity, improving quality, and reducing costs. In fact, according to the report, of all technology investments in the past year, 33% of companies said process automation provided the greatest return on investment..
Manufacturers that cannot overcome these combined challenges will fall behind competitors who are leveraging automation and robotics to fill operational gaps created by internal and external obstacles. Automation and robotics not only improve efficiency and reduce errors, but also help offset tight margins, compensate for labor shortages, meet demand and regulations, and provide greater control over operations.
How to optimize automation and robotics
Deploying and using robotics and automation across the enterprise requires thoughtful management and oversight to control and extract insights. To derive maximum insight from robotics and automation, companies must ensure that the software powering these technologies is connected across enterprise systems to improve insight and information gathering. Specifically, automation software increases data visibility, enables analysis of production processes, and helps identify problems. The interconnected ecosystem provides insights across the business by centralizing machines, networks, and data through the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and the Connected Enterprise.
The essential components for collecting that information and deploying it appropriately to improve automation across your organization include:
- Manufacturing execution systems (MES) track key performance indicators (KPIs) to provide real-time visibility into operations and prevent congestion points.
- A quality management system (QMS) provides a central repository for all data and enables traceability and automation of workflows.
- Supply chain planning (SCP) automates the collection of data from machines, sensors, and other systems to identify trends and patterns and automate production planning, workflow, and performance.
The use of automation and robotics can help reduce operational pressures placed on food processing due to economic, customer, and industry challenges. Investments in automation and robotics improve operational visibility and increase accuracy and precision. As the food manufacturing industry faces workforce challenges, increasing margins, regulations, and seeks to streamline processes, automation serves as a viable solution to improve operations across the enterprise.
Jim Bresler is Director of Product Management for Food and Beverage. plex. He has over 25 years of experience developing and implementing smart manufacturing solutions (ERP, MES, QMS) for food and beverage manufacturers.