The modern food processing industry is highly technology-dependent, and this trend shows no sign of easing anytime soon. In the coming years, many bakeries will have to automate to ensure their long-term viability. Even today, you’ll find a diverse range of bakery goods within the existing supply chain, each a product of a fully-automated bakery process.
Implementing automated manufacturing software and information controls with the help of an integration service provider like EZSoft can help your bakery to reduce its overall operating costs while increasing throughput and sales.
In the text below, we’ll show you how automation helps bakeries put their time and resources to better use and how businesses like yours leverage automated storage and retrieval systems paired with a manufacturing execution system (MES). A solution like this can enhance your production efficiency and forecasting and supply chain planning.
The modern, automated bakery
Bakeries that haven’t adopted contemporary industrial automation solutions are missing out on a crucial opportunity to reduce labor overhead while optimizing order processing efficiency and accuracy.
One proven way to boost your bakery’s operational productivity and reduce costs is by decreasing the time it takes for your perishables to run through your production lines and find retailer shelves. Automation technology for food manufacturers helps you increase processing speeds, even during challenging stretches when you’re experiencing an unforeseen spike in demand.
The reason automation has become so popular in recent years is attributable to the fact that automated processing lines require less human intervention. Fully- or partially-automated bakeries are more sanitary because of the reduced human interaction with their products. They similarly foster safer working environments because the traditional labor risks associated with a food manufacturing plant are low.
Automated software and equipment for food processors are constantly evolving, and the tools provided by AI technology are only getting smarter. Automation now displays natural language processing. This technology improves management efficiency while reducing operator interaction with heavy machinery and other potentially unsafe tasks.
Automated bakeries gain real-time insight into their supply chains
Accurate, real-time inventory tracking and end-to-end traceability are crucial if you’re looking to improve your bottom line with fewer human resources while keeping up with increased customer demand. Bakeries that introduce automated systems and information controls to their facilities, like an MES, are able to pivot and adapt quickly to unexpected shifts in consumer demand.
When paired with the right industrial automation software solutions, food manufacturers and distributors gain more control over their materials handling and deep insight into their entire operations through valuable process data they couldn’t previously access.
Improved warehouse space optimization
Bakery automation helps you optimize space utilization within your plant, effectively reducing your real estate costs. These savings make AI the preferred solution among bakeries that need additional warehouse space but don’t want to absorb the expenses of either new building or leasing another facility.
For bakeries that handle a considerable supply of frozen goods, maximizing storage density is crucial. Automating your plant removes many of the operational complexities associated with storing frozen breads and snacks, giving bakery owners more flexibility with respect to how they warehouse their inventory according to their characteristics.
The team of engineers and information controls specialists at EZSoft can help you develop a reliable strategy using AI to continually optimize the use of your existing warehouse space. The bakery automation software and equipment allow you to keep more products and machinery on your plant floor than the manual typical operation.
Depending on your specific application, you could stand to gain as much as 50 percent more space at your facility. These additional savings can be applied to other critical areas, such as product development, and make it easier to pursue your strategic growth plan.
Your facility becomes safer after automating. Labor risks are reduced in your freezer areas because automation takes over where you would normally have a human operator manually conducting the same tasks under sub-zero conditions. When your employees are exposed to harsh freezer environments, they’re also more prone to committing potentially costly human errors that could place your business at risk.
More efficient operations
Facilities that remain steeped manual procedures are more ask risk for worksite safety issues than automated facilities. At the same, time they face several obstacles to their efficiency that are virtually undiscoverable in bakeries that have implemented automation software solutions to handle a significant portion of their operations.
Food manufacturing companies that haven’t automated yet have objected to doing so primarily over cost concerns. Many still believe automating their bakeries is too expensive, and they can’t absorb the downtime necessary for system implementation. Other organizations have too many short-term priorities to resolve before seriously considering a long-term solution like automating.
At some stage, very likely in the near term, almost every industrial bakery will have to start automating at least some aspects of their operations if they aim to keep a competitive stance in their respective markets.
More advantages of bakery automation
If you haven’t automated your bakery yet, taking the steps to get out of your legacy systems now can benefit you in countless ways beyond just space savings and increased operational efficiency.
Our automation software for food processors can address immediate challenges, like the ongoing labor shortage and several other issues, including inaccurate inventory and food waste.
Automation is a great choice for bakeries that need to increase their throughput without increasing their warehouse footprint. Alternatively, if your organization wants to add equipment to its existing building, automation lets achieve this by reducing your existing equipment footprint with modern bakery automation equipment.
Legacy, non-automated machinery takes up more space than the latest automated equipment. Automating your food manufacturing plant is an effective approach for improving worksite safety and reducing overall running costs. At the same time, you’ll gain more control and insight over your entire supply chain after implementing bakery automation technology.
Thinking about bakery automation?
Automating your bakery now will undoubtedly bring several long- and short-term benefits. Whenever you’re just starting your journey into automation now, or you’ve already started implementing and need to expand, the team at EZSoft can help.
Learn how our premium software integration services can help you minimize implementation risks and simply future system support by requesting a quote online or dialing (484) 568-5040 now.
