TECHNOLOGY BAKERY
from it, so we need to keep developing new ways to do things and to produce more with what we’ve got. It’s the only way we can continue to grow and thrive.” As this case study demonstrates, digital technologies can help drive efficiencies in bakeries, improving maintenance processes and improving compliance and traceability… and it’s not just about the use of robotics and automation. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
for example, which also formed part of Bells of Lazonby’s solution, are software systems that help run an entire business, supporting automation and processes in finance, human resources, manufacturing, supply chain, services, procurement, and more. An ERP system is usually a bespoke solution, developed to fit each individual company so most platforms consist of various modules which relate to each business area (such as finance/accounting, supply chain management, human resources, manufacturing and logistics, and customer relationship management) and are rolled out in stages as the database is being built. This paves the way for more accurate data tracking and management, making compliance easier to prove. An ERP system should also be able to ensure your precise specifications – such as the recipes you use – are met with each batch, helping to regulate batches and maintain standards.
The benefits of ERP systems can go far beyond this. For example, given the cost-of-
living crisis being experienced across many regions of the world today, there are only so many rising fees that bakeries can pass on to the consumer – this presents a need to improve accuracy and reduce waste. An ERP platform has a role to play here too, helping to cut down on inventory inefficiencies by enabling bakeries to order ingredients when needed, and produce and ship in good time – rather than keep items waiting around in the warehouse. This solution is equally valid whether you mass-produce batch items or manufacture to-order. Of course, bakeries often face some very specific challenges, including the need for the product to be delivered to the consumer while still fresh. Add to this a variety of operational requirements including inventory management, strict allergen requirements, and the growing need for more flexible production. So, it is important to choose an ERP system which will help to address these challenges. The right solution should help establish end-to-end control standards across the organisation, ensuring food safety and compliance. In addition, look out for features that help streamline the recipe and batch management in order to increase efficiency, reduce food contamination and meet regulatory requirements.
Some ERP solutions will also provide
advanced forecasting and production planning tools which will allow a bakery to more accurately balance supply and demand considerations.
In a fast-changing world, digitalisation is
becoming more commonplace in bakeries who are looking to maximise their potential. A recent report from the International Data Corporation – Global Food and Beverage Industry Trends and Strategic Insights, 2021 – highlighted this. It found that food and beverage companies that are more advanced in their digital transformation journey generally outperform those that are less progressed. The report identified clear links between digitisation and business performance, citing efforts that overwhelmingly led to Key Performance Indicator (KPI) improvements across a business, including revenue and profit.
The benefits of digitalisation
Martin Offenhaeusser, Service Product Manager at Syntegon, explains why bakery manufacturers should be looking to digitise their production/ packaging processes. Digitised production and packaging
processes produce vast amounts of shopfloor data. If bakery manufacturers are able to interpret this data, they will be able to identify improvement potentials for cost reduction, productivity increase, or resource savings. Cloud-based software solutions such as Syntegon’s Synexio can help achieve this by collecting evaluating and visualising
production and machine data, providing full performance transparency. All equipment information can be
accessed on one device – a tablet or smartphone, for example – to help operators troubleshoot production lines, by identifying rejected products and errors occurring during production in real-time. Operators are then able to react quickly and adjust machine settings in a matter of minutes, so that downtimes can be kept to a minimum. The more efficiently the production lines run, the less waste is created and the more productive the line becomes,
18 Kennedy’s Bakery Production Feb/March 2024
ultimately resulting in more cost- efficient production. A highly digitised production line also lays the groundwork for data-based process optimisation.
Solutions like Synexio
enable bakery manufacturers to compare production data from different machines at varying time periods to identify parameters for increased productivity – even across multiple working shifts and production sites. Based on previous equipment data, manufacturers can also refine their production schedule and track its progress – ultimately improving operational efficiency.
bakeryproduction.co.uk
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