Food & Drink Process & Packaging Issue 24 2019 | Page 48

The Smart Food Factory Is Closer Than You Think Food manufacturers can gain real Mr Simpson outlined how in a smart food Manufacturers are able to remotely competitive advantage through the factory information is able to flow up and control and monitor their production lines, implementation of digitisation and the down the supply chain much faster, with including individual machine’s service establishment of a smart food factory – a company’s ERP system acting as the requirements, and finished goods can be and the means to achieve this are easier central nervous system. automatically booked and entered into than companies realise with many of the technologies needed already in existence. the ERP system. This means the shop floor and senior management are fully connected and Full connectivity and automation bring This was the key message of a transactions between the consumer, the greater efficiencies and consistency and presentation by Mathew Simpson of food retailer and the producer are more easily help to ensure supply is more accurately and drink IT specialist CSB-System at managed. matched to demand. for Improving Productivity in Food For example, orders placed via a Companies’ existing systems and Manufacturing, organised by the Centre smartphone can be directly received equipment can be utilised in the move to for SMART (Sustainable Manufacturing into the manufacturer’s or retailer’s ERP the smart factory, explained Mr Simpson. and Recycling Technologies) and the system and production demand can be Internet of Food Things Network Plus generated before retailer stock is fully (IoFT). consumed. the recent seminar Digital Technologies 48 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk