FEATURE FOCUS: FOOD & BEVERAGE


DIGITALIZATION AND THE FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY


Cloud analytics, real-time monitoring,


virtual commissioning and digital twinning — the ability to recreate the plant virtually — are just some of the techniques now helping plant managers in the food sector reduce unplanned downtime, improve safety and mitigate food emergencies. Crucially, plant managers can use cloud


to adapt to seasonal changes in demand, flexibly altering production setups, factory layouts and even reassigning staff without causing wider disruption.


by Robert Glass, global food & beverage communications manager, ABB D


igitalization encompasses a transformation in the way industrial


environments work. For the food and beverage industry, this means companies can better comply with legislation through a transformation in areas including connectivity, smart sensors, traceability, cloud computing and monitoring. The shift toward digitalization is a


natural continuation for leading food and beverage manufacturers, as the president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association in the USA, Pamela Baily explained. Baily said: “Food, beverage and consumer products manufacturers are leveraging innovation to optimize service to consumers and trading partners.”


SMART SENSORS Well-kept traceability records and sensor data can increase transparency between businesses, producers and consumers. This allows plant managers to respond faster in emergencies and use evidence to rebuild public trust following recalls. The processed and raw data can be


stored and recalled if there are any issues further along in production. Cloud technology has made it easy to store and analyse data, removing any potential for human error by raising alerts and red flags immediately. Sensors can aid traceability in two


ways: they improve the accuracy of automated processes and they can track


8 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 | IRISH MANUFACTURING


and store a variety of manufacturing data. Time-temperature history, physical shocks and other important credentials can be continuously measured and synchronized across the factory thanks to the IIoT. Sensors used during food production


can monitor products throughout the manufacturing and distribution supply chain. Sensors can form part of a device such as a smart container, or act standalone, depending on the needs and conditions of the manufacturing process. In the future, smart containers may be


able to self-diagnose and correct, for example by self-heating the container so that it remains above a threshold set out by health and safety guidelines such as Regulation (EC) 852/2004. A similar product, self-chilling beverage cans, produced by collaboration between Crown Cork & Seal and Tempra Technologies are paving the way. As the costs of connectivity reduce,


all-in-one products such as this are likely to become common across multiple industries.


CLOUD Although almost 60 per cent of US food and beverage manufacturers use the Internet of Things (IoT) to track and trace ingredients, less than half are using the advanced analytics the IoT makes possible.


Although many businesses will be wary of the perceived complexity of undergoing digital transformation, it can bring about a true competitive advantage


MONITORING The huge amount of data produced by the connected factory can be used for many purposes in the food and beverage sector. For example, understanding why one machine is running hotter than another, or why one is not picking as many products, can help operators understand the efficiencies of each machine, data that can be used to improve plant maintenance. Many plants are using their own


mobile networks to take monitoring to the next level. For example, on farms, sensors are used to monitor soil conditions, using the data to predict when animals are in heat and text the farmer with the information. “In the future, agricultural machinery


will work as rolling data centers and sensor technology will provide all the important information in real time” predict PwC advisors. “The challenge for farmers will lie in intelligently networking the technology and managing the data.” Further down the production line, food


retailers such as Ocado have built their own high speed 4G networks to communicate with thousands of robots. Raw technical data has its uses, but


these are greatly enhanced when the sensor data is combined with maintenance management or financial data. It is this consolidation that allows the information to come into its own and be useful for prediction, past analysis and optimization. Although many businesses will be wary


ABB www.new.abb.co m/food-beverage T: +44 808 258 2000


of the perceived complexity of undergoing digital transformation, it can bring about a true competitive advantage. Plant managers of the future should not only recognize the trend toward digitalization, but they should embrace the opportunities it brings.


/ IRISHMANUFACTURING


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