PROCESSING & MACHINERY: CHOICES, CHOICES
Thinking through the mind of the consumer is a key way to understand how to construct your processing systems, says Neil
Difficult decisions Neil Fowell discusses the thought processes that FMCG manufacturers must consider when choosing production machinery
The retail supply chain has changed beyond recognition over the last 50 years, which has forced manufacturers to revolutionise their operations. Today, retailers demand that products reach their shelves quicker than ever before and to a higher standard than in the past.
I
t has put brands and manufacturers under pressure and forced them to
seek solutions that increase the speed of their processing lines without impacting on the quality of the final product. Over the last 50 years,
developments in processing machinery have helped increase the pace of operations significantly, helping to get products on shelf quicker. However, all too often, it is at the expense of quality, with some items damaged during the production stages and others packaged incorrectly. What is quite clear today is
that the public will no longer purchase products that do not meet their high standards in terms of quality and value. With so many new products being launched every year it has become easier than ever before for consumers to find an
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equally good product on supermarket shelves.
HAVE A THINK Put yourself in the shoes of the consumer. If you bought two identical packets of crisps and one was half empty and the other completely full, you wouldn’t be too impressed. And with dozens of other brands available next time round you would be inclined to pick a different option. Alternatively, take a DIY
example. If you needed 100 nails for a project and bought a box promising you all 100 nails, how would you feel if you were three nails short of completing your job?
Imagine one further scenario.
If you bought a pack of potatoes and the majority were bruised and beyond use, would you think twice next time you found yourself making a purchase? It goes without saying that the answer would be yes. In any industry, the balance
between speed and quality needs to be right – too much of one and not enough of the other will ultimately end in failure. This is even more important in the FMCG industry, where the pressure to get it right means you are never far away from the scrap heap of products that have failed over the years.
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