Process Control and Automation
Gathering, storing and making data on the materials available is crucial to a healthy process. It allows traceability and ensures food security, by knowing which ingredient lot from the warehouse was dosed into each final unit, and makes it possible to verify the efficiency of a system.
How is data collection used and why is it important?
There are many potential uses of data collection on the confectionery production line, and in general it can be said that the collection and use of this data enables manufacturers to operate more efficiently, profitably and in line with compliance requirements. “Our Tracking System software provides process control, warehouse management and full traceability with digitalisation of all material movements,” says Stefania. “Our customers receive a complete picture of the production process in real time: we provide them with a history of storing and dosing operations, consumption statistics, batch report and related deviations, as well as stock visualisation and dynamic graphics illustrating all trends. Ingredients are monitored starting from the moment they enter the warehouse, carrying a virtual label through all production which adds new information every time an operation is performed on the ingredient.” She adds: “All of our data can be easily integrated with global ERP or MES to achieve organisation-wide traceability. Our process control software is open, and the information is immediately available for the user, who can use it however they decide. Because we develop our software completely in- house, we are not bound to any third party and therefore our customers are not either.”
“The automation must control parameters such as temperature, pH, atmosphere, which is crucial in preserving the properties of ingredients such as flour or fats”
The data can be used in as many ways as the customer wants. They can quickly carry out mass production balances, check consumptions, generate information for Quality Control and Purchases, create projections of future productions and optimise the current process. Data on the tolerance and queue of dosing processes can be used to check the status of the equipment and determine if it requires maintenance. Rob says: “In respect of issues of product quality and line performance, one example is the use of data and predictive analysis through Mettler-Toledo ProdX™ software and OPC UA data exchange standards for Condition Monitoring. This enables manufacturers to assess when line equipment can be put through planned maintenance during non-production times, reducing the possibility of unplanned maintenance becoming necessary at inconvenient times.”
16 Kennedy’s Confection July 2022
KennedysConfection.com
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