Useful data
To maintain competitiveness, confectioners should be constantly looking for new ways to increase productivity and efficiency without compromising product quality. For many, there is a belief that collecting data from their processes will make this task easier. Tim Hellwig, Head of Service at Theegarten-Pactec GmbH & Co. KG and Managing Director of SweetConnect – an initiative established to drive, shape, and support the digitalising of the confectionery industry – points out that, in reality, the production process involves so many moving components, machines of different ages and from different manufacturers, that collecting useful data can be a challenge because incomplete datasets can render the data unusable or – even worse – can lead to misinterpretations. So, how should we connect machines? What data is worth collecting? And how can data be used to improve the current conditions? “All too often companies find themselves developing software, setting up infrastructure, connecting machines and interpreting data. What is actually needed, however, is an industry-wide solution, so confectioners can focus on doing what they do best – producing confectionery,” says Tim. “Realising that no one was going to solve the industry’s problems for us, Theegarten-Pactec
joined
forces with other machine manufacturers, confectionery producers, industry networks and the academic sector to together shape and drive the digitalisation of the industry and SweetConnect was born.” SweetConnect is digital platform created for the production of confectionery. It employs software that is focussed on meeting the needs of the confectionery sector and which is able to turn data into useable information. It utilises a combination of digital tools to increase performance, lower costs, ensure consistent quality and reduce unplanned downtimes.
“In addition to product safety and hygienic processes,
digital solutions will improve transparency in production”
“The bottom-line is that gathering data alone is not enough and putting it to use effectively requires more than an individual company can stem. It takes the entire industry to digitalise the industry, and a broad mix of competencies working hand-in-hand to show effect. And that is what SweetConnect is,” says Tim.
Digitalisation benefits
According to Laura Kossmann, Sales & Marketing, Makat Candy Technology GmbH, a Syntegon company,
the
advantages of digital solutions became particularly apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic. If they had not done so before, manufacturers increasingly installed monitoring devices to reduce operator interventions on the shopfloor. Discussing digitalisation benefits, Laura says: “In addition
to product safety and hygienic processes, digital solutions will improve transparency in production – a crucial prerequisite for anyone wanting to optimise their processes. Digital monitoring tools provide information on the machine status and output. This, in turn, enables service experts from equipment suppliers to take the appropriate maintenance measures at an early stage.
Digital solutions can improve transparency in production
KennedysConfection.com
Kennedy’s Confection May 2022 37
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