After years of hesitation, a widely known chocolate producer in Quebec, Canada lastly took the leap and modernized their automated palletizing course of. What modified? The correct timing, the fitting drawback, and the fitting resolution. Their journey highlights key takeaways for meals producers contemplating upgrading their automation however not sure when or the way to begin.
The Problem: A Bottleneck in Manufacturing
This firm, with a number of places and over a thousand staff, had been increasing its retail choices. Extra merchandise meant extra demand—but additionally extra pressure on manufacturing.
Their greatest challenge? The second shift. Like many producers, they struggled to seek out and retain staff, particularly for late-hour positions. On prime of that, their present industrial palletizer was unreliable, vulnerable to breakdowns, and ultimately failed utterly final summer season. This left them with a transparent alternative: both keep on with an outdated, labor-intensive course of or put money into new automation to maintain up with demand.
The Turning Level: An Engineer Who Noticed the Large Image
Automation wasn’t a brand new concept for them. The engineering supervisor had been in discussions with Robotiq about palletizing options for a number of years whereas working for a distinct firm, however by no means had the fitting alternative. When he joined this chocolate maker, he instantly acknowledged that upgrading to a contemporary, robotic palletizer might resolve their labor points and enhance effectivity.
With an ROI in underneath 2 years and the pliability to broaden, the choice turned a simple one.
Key Advantages Achieved
- Area Optimization: Flooring area was tight, however the brand new palletizer’s superior software program allowed them to put in it near present buildings with out interfering with operations.
- Quick Set up: Inside in the future, they had been working their first SKU. Inside two days, full integration was full.
- Ease of Use: The earlier system required a single knowledgeable to troubleshoot and keep it. Now, even second-shift upkeep employees might function the gear with confidence.
- Scalability: With their first robotic palletizer up and working, they’re already planning for a second one.
What Different Meals Producers Can Study
- Don’t Anticipate a Breakdown to Automate. In case your gear is unreliable, don’t danger productiveness losses. The sooner you improve automation, the earlier you begin seeing returns.
- Suppose Past Labor Shortages. Automation doesn’t simply resolve hiring challenges—it may possibly optimize area, pace up manufacturing, and improve flexibility.
- Contemplate Ease of Use. Fashionable options are designed for easy operation. Your staff doesn’t have to be consultants in robotics to run and keep them.
- ROI Can Be Quicker Than You Suppose. A payback interval underneath 2 years is cheap, however in lots of instances, advantages begin showing instantly with elevated productiveness and staff morale.
This chocolate maker is proof that automation doesn’t need to be sophisticated or disruptive. When the fitting situations align, the transition may be easy—and the outcomes, game-changing.
In the event you’re dealing with related challenges, now could be the fitting time to take that subsequent step.
