Digitalisation
SweetConnect is digital platform employs software focussed on meeting the needs of the confectionery sector
Reaping the benefits of data
Suzanne Callander reports on the digitalisation of confectionery plants, exploring how and why confectionery manufacturers should be preparing to set out on a digital journey
T
he view often conjured up by thoughts of a smart, digitalised factory is one of a pristine green field site with all the latest technologies in place. In reality, however, most confectionery production plants will consist of a host of different equipment
of differing ages, along unconnected lines and using a wide variety of technologies and differing levels of capability. Importantly though, this should not pose a barrier to reaping the benefits of digitalisation. Any plant can become a smart plant. The key to success is having the ability to capture data from right across the plant to offer insight into plant performance, downtimes and energy efficiency.
Fundamentally, it requires the adoption of automation at the equipment level and requires the presence of a
36 Kennedy’s Confection May 2022
standardised operational technology communication network infrastructure which is able to capture data, analyse it and most importantly, turn it into usable information. Before embarking on any digitalisation project, it is important to firstly consider what success will look like. What improvements are you trying to make? Next, it is important to look at the level of automation and network infrastructure that already exists within the plant and whether that will meet the needs of the project. Equally, the vision of the final goal should be considered – how far are you aiming to travel along the road to digitalisation? Successful digitalisation projects will be those that have considered the levels of investment required and which focus on the automation and network infrastructure required to capture and make good use of data.
KennedysConfection.com
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