Industrial Automation Magazine India

The F&B industry has many regulations that can be challenging to follow

Published on : Thursday 08-08-2024

Sameer Gandhi, Managing Director, OMRON Automation, India.

What are the most significant trends driving digitalisation in the Food & Beverage industry?

Digitalisation in the Food & Beverage (F&B) manufacturing industry in India is being driven by several significant trends which are transforming the industry in India, making it more efficient, transparent, and customer-centric, e.g., utilisation of robotics. Its inclusion at the shop floors is increasing to enhance efficiency and reduce human error in production processes. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning is also on the rise. These technologies are being used for predictive analytics, quality control, and to optimise supply chain management. IoT devices are helping to monitor and manage production processes in real-time, improving traceability and reducing waste. Also, there is a growing focus on sustainability, with digital tools being used to reduce energy consumption, minimise waste, and improve resource efficiency. Enhanced data analytics allows companies to create more personalised experiences for customers, improving satisfaction and loyalty.

What are the biggest challenges that Food & Beverage companies face when implementing digital transformation?

Few of the key challenges which crop up during implementation of digital transformation are:

• Seamless Integration of Legacy Systems: A common challenge for many companies is to merge their old and incompatible legacy systems with new digital solutions.

• Data Security and Privacy: Data needs to be secure and private, especially as IoT and cloud-based solutions become more common.

• Workforce Upskilling: Workers need new skills to manage new technologies and processes. This needs considerable deliberation and deployment of resources on training and development.

• Digital technologies can be expensive to adopt, and companies need to be conscious about early payback.

• Change Management: Managing the cultural and organisational changes that come with digital transformation can be challenging.

• Regulatory Compliance: The F&B industry has many regulations that can be challenging to follow when adopting new technologies.

To tackle these challenges, we need a strategic approach focusing on impeccable planning, investment in technology and people, and a high priority on change management.

In what ways is digitalisation contributing to waste reduction in the Food & Beverage industry?

One of the most significant ways with which digitalisation contributes towards waste reduction and improving overall sustainability in the Food & Beverage industry is its role in deploying preventive maintenance which leads to  prevention of mistakes, failures, and inefficiencies throughout the packaging line leading to reducing waste in manufacturing and distribution. The smart cameras and sensors ensure quality control for processes like filling, and labelling, which leads to reduction of waste by decreasing errors and rework.

At OMRON, we provide full Traceability Solutions throughout the supply chain that combine automation with analytics. Our high-speed temperature control systems quickly and accurately achieve and maintain temperatures for sealing or cooking/cooling applications, reducing waste from inefficient production processes. OMRON’s solutions also support sustainable packaging practices, helping to reduce the environmental impact of packaging materials.

How has digitalisation impacted the operational efficiency and profitability of Food & Beverage businesses?

Digitalisation delivers enhanced operational efficiency, predictive maintenance; optimisation of supply chains through reducing waste and lowering inventory costs; improved product quality owing to deployment of solutions like traceability; more agility and flexibility; personalised and customised customer engagements, etc. All this leads to increase in the growth of revenue and higher levels of profitability. It also opens up new revenue streams through e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales channels.

What role does digitalisation play in enhancing food safety and quality assurance?

It plays a pivotal role in enhancing food safety and quality assurance. Talking from OMRON’s perspective, our end-to-end traceability solutions play a great role in ensuring that every step of the production process is monitored and recorded, making it easier to identify and address any issues that may arise. Our range of smart cameras and sensors perform real-time quality checks and detect defects and inconsistencies in products, ensuring that only high-quality items reach consumers. Precise temperature control systems solutions ensure that products are processed at the correct temperatures, reducing the risk of contamination and our automated inspection systems verify the integrity of packaging and labeling, ensuring that products are correctly packaged and labeled before they leave the production facility. By using AI and machine learning, OMRON’s solutions deploy proactive maintenance. This minimises downtime and ensures that production processes continue to be safe.

(The views expressed in interviews are personal, not necessarily of the organisations represented) 

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