Importance of Process automation in F&B Industries

Automation is being integrated into today's smart factories to boost productivity, improve operational effectiveness, supply chain visibility, and internal collaboration. The F&B industry is the only one to have recently automated and has witnessed a series of changes in the last decade. There is ongoing pressure on the F&B business to adhere to the FDA and other rules that protect consumers and ensure high-quality products. With its demonstrated capacity to boost productivity, enhance traceability, and safeguard the brand's reputation while maintaining regulatory compliance, automation provides a clear way to alleviate these stresses. Embracing cutting-edge technologies like process automation and advanced analytics can enable F&B businesses to efficiently meet all of their difficulties in novel and efficient ways.

Evolution and competitive edge

Cost pressure, rising consumer demands for customization, and transparency in production procedures drive a significant shift in the F&B industry. Despite this, this sector remains among APAC's fastest-expanding economic sectors.

Many F&B producers are looking to IIoT technology to help remain competitive in today's global economy. The F&B businesses use cloud computing, big data analysis, smart manufacturing, and predictive maintenance solutions in the processes. As the industry digitizes, it will become easier for manufacturers to respond quickly to shifting consumer behavior by increasing production flexibility and shortening the Time to Market. To remain competitive in the global market, the F&B industry must leverage process automation solutions to be efficient and flexible in operations. The process automation solutions allow for an additional, less intrusive means of data collecting and analysis. Because plant data is frequently buried in silos and not immediately accessible, F&B firms have continuously invested in solutions to automate processes and provide visibility into operations. The advanced technology offers less intrusive means of data collecting and analysis.

Process automation benefits the F&B industry

Below are some of the advantages that process automation in the F&B industry offers:

Increases efficiency

Automated processes operate 24/7, with infrequent maintenance pauses, and are faster than manual operators. Automation in the F&B industry improves output and efficiency. Process automation increases productivity and collects manufacturing line data to improve maintenance. Real-time data are utilized to identify potential flaws and alert when maintenance is required, reducing costs and downtime.

Improves quality assurance

To supply safe consumable goods and preserve a brand’s reputation, the F&B industry requires superior quality control. Automation increases reproducibility and guarantees that the final output is consistent by reducing human error and allowing early discovery of potential quality issues.

Better traceability of processes

It is crucial in the F&B business to trace end-to-end processes, especially during product recalls, which require firms to collect and destroy products at great expense. Automation enhances traceability, allowing a product to be monitored from its origin to the consumer's shelf. The shipment can be located and retrieved if a product batch is faulty to prevent further issues. Traceability enables producers to ensure regulatory compliance and reduce expenses associated with compliance. This data allows for troubleshooting and identifying supply chain issues, enhancing quality, safety, and profitability.

Brand security

F&B companies rely heavily on their brand to engage consumers who anticipate a consistent product with the same texture, flavor, and other features. Automation ensures consistency, preserving the reputation of a brand. The process automation improves quality, decreases F&B recalls, and safeguards the brand.

Improves safety

Automation in the F&B industry increases worker safety since hazardous tasks such as lifting heavy objects and performing repetitive tasks are eliminated. Process automation make these tasks safer for operators. Automation frees human resources for higher-priority, value-added tasks.

Fuji Electric helps in gaining the benefits of process automation

Most F&B firms will continue to incorporate automation into their operations. Fuji makes automation simpler and seamless in the F&B industry through its offerings such as PLC, HMI, Servo Systems, and LV drives. The HMIs can reduce complex programming, streamline wiring, and provide numerous data management and monitoring for a single or several devices/factories. The technology can communicate with multiple industrial communication protocols while offering centralized monitoring and control. The servo systems deliver energy efficiency and are always mechanically on point. It allows companies to operate it at a high-speed pace. Optimal, small, and large-scale systems can be developed using PLC, and LV drives, enabling automation at a reduced cost by saving energy.

Today's global F&B business is driven by consumer satisfaction. The production processes must be adaptable and environmentally friendly to keep up with consumers' ever-evolving tastes. Fuji India helps incorporate the technology with modern process automation and control systems. Fuji solutions are reliable, readily available, and effective since the company is dedicated to using only the latest technology while also adhering to internationally recognized standards for production management control.