The food and beverage manufacturing industry has seen considerable development in the past few decades, with the invention of new products promising more rapid growth. The ever-growing population is also pushing food processing firms to keep up with consumers’ increasing demands. Automation has now become an important aspect of the food industry in order to satisfy the needs of the food industry’s growing demand. The introduction of automation processes has changed the food manufacturing industry by bringing in quality and consistency in the product. The rapid advances in IoT and powerful prospects for better food quality and protection for customers and governing agencies have pressured the food industry to introduce automation for most manufacturing processes. In addition, the rising market for advanced and refined packaged foods and increasing regulations on food safety has greatly increased the demand for automation in the food industry.
A) Better Control of Quality
Quality is an overall concern that persists with both food suppliers and customers. And, as you all know, in the food industry, safety is of vital importance and you don’t want hazardous or damaged foods to reach the market, as it can be dangerous. Defects can be detected and isolated more quickly as packaging and processing are automated. This aims to ensure that damaged commodities do not enter the markets and that inherent process defects are corrected. Throughout the food and beverage supply chain, there are so many employees, systems involved and touchpoints that it can be difficult not only to keep track of food but also to control its quality. Food must always remain safe and traceable, and guaranteeing a system of too many mechanisms is challenging. Alleviating contaminants can be regulated and accomplished by deploying the necessary cooling and air compressor systems. It is therefore equally important to consider where this hardware would be used for optimum reliability. By better-protecting products and foods in the chain, automation and analytics systems can be used to discern this information.
B) Improved safety of workers
In order to have a rough picture of any step in food processing, machine vision and automation can work together. Changes in safety regulations will also be modified more easily as a change in one process would not have unintended effects in other areas. AI, automation systems, and modern robotics are also used to manage routine and often even dangerous tasks.In this way, the hazards or injuries of a specific activity or even the repetitiveness of busy work will save human workers. In the long term, the workforce’s improved safety and security will also help to reduce repair and operating costs. It will also contribute to the widespread and quicker implementation of novel laws and norms for your general workforce. Usually, such a transition may require new facilities, extra preparation or even improved security for the staff. In the case of automation, current hardware and applications that you wish to be compatible with would easily be upgraded and would save the hassle of keeping everything else such as upgrading the employees’ protective equipment, which will no longer be needed.
(c) End-to-End Traceability
Traceability is a growing concern in many sectors. Companies can reap greater protection, efficiency and profitability at the same time while the products are traceable. Regulatory compliance costs can be minimised by food producers and they can continually enhance core operations by streamlining traceability. Modern analytical tools and automation can be used to monitor goods and products from start to finish modern analytics and automation will be used at the disposal to find out where the contaminated shipment is being delivered or headed. This way, you can get away with a major health issue before it even starts. This, in turn, will boost the overall efficiency of the supply chain and the various key processes, as well as reduce compliance costs and stressors.
(d) Brand protection
Food manufacturers rely on their brand image to maintain a strong relationship with the end-user. To shut a company, a single product recall or outbreak of the disease would be sufficient and can place the lives of the consumer in turmoil. So at the end of the day, automation means brand security. Reputation is all about every brand. As a result of protection or other problems, customer trust in a brand is shaken and the brand will lose appeal to its rivals. In a compromised and highly competitive market, such as the food industry, the struggle to save a company and customers is daunting enough, but those who are able to follow a more transparent methodology, using advanced real-time intelligence and creative strategies, stand to reap improved profits as they have the confidence of a brand customer.
E) Efficiency Boost
It is no less real than a machine or automation system can operate quicker and better than human workers, at least in a few situations. If a machine has a failure, it never tyres and will never slacken. It doesn’t mean that modern technology would be used to replace workers, but instead, they may be deployed alongside them to make them operate more efficiently, easier and quicker. For example, deploying AI and automation robotics within warehouses will increase the productivity of the order fulfillment process. It also has the additional advantage of speeding up the whole operation, so that customers can get their goods quicker. It also increases the performance and safety of employees, essentially removing dangerous tasks or mechanical activity.
Conclusion:
Automation has streamlined the process of food packaging for various uses, including palletizing and depalletizing, packaging and repacking, pick and put, grading and sorting, processing, logistics, etc. Automating food processing can offer many benefits. MIKRO was founded in 2008 to offer world-class automation technologies targeted to the Indian/International markets. We utilize our in-depth expertise and validated design & implementation capabilities to address the diverse automation systems needs of global customers in sectors such as healthcare, automobile, electrical/electronic and consumer goods. We offer tailored solutions and provide real-world consultancy.