3 Benefits of Automation in the Food Manufacturing Industry 

With COVID-19 changing almost every aspect of the marketplace, the food manufacturing industry was no exception. Customers are now buying through e-commerce platforms more than before, and the landscape that products are bought and sold has changed drastically. With an increased demand for products and a highly competitive market, automation has become one of the best ways to increase product output without increasing labour demands. Check out our top 3 benefits of automation in the food manufacturing industry to see how it can help benefit your facility: 

Improved Product Output and Quality Control 

Though we may not like to admit it, automation can help food manufacturers output more products and decrease margins, all with fewer workers involved. Not only does this cut down on waste, but it also helps to ensure that production remains at an all-time high – where employees could only work the standard 8 hours, automated machinery can run 24-7. According to the Robotic Industry Association (RIA), “In 2020, food and consumer manufacturers increased their robotics orders by 56% over the prior year” – where robotic pieces used to not be the norm in the food industrial equipment, robotic and automation machines are now becoming more widely available with improved capabilities to handle delicate products like fruits and veggies with smaller amounts of waste.  

Automation not only helps keep production at an all-time high, but it reduces the impacts of human error and helps with production efficiency. Customers want to know that the product they know and love will taste the same each time – using controlled automated systems that are programmed to control the ingredient output and possible bake times, the margin for error decreases significantly. This not only helps keep customers happy but also helps to add credibility to your brand by acting as a safeguard against any product consistency issues.  

Improved workplace safety 

Generally, using automated machinery in the workplace leads to fewer workplace accidents. With employees no longer working on the production lines as they used to, the chance for an error resulting in injuries or unsafe work environments has been significantly minimized. Instead of employees having to work dangerous, monotonous jobs, they can now focus on more critical tasks while the automated machinery can take over the production.  

Keeping employees safer on the job not only helps to keep them happy and protected but also helps your bottom line. With less downtime, safety gear, and training needed, food manufacturers and employees, can spend less time worrying about safety and more time on critical business needs.  

Improved Adaptability 

If the last year and a half have proven anything, it’s that to survive in a changing landscape, businesses must be able to adapt and food processing and manufacturing is no exception. Being able to quickly change automated programming and processes when required allows for food manufacturers to quickly get with the times without a lot of downtimes. Some food processing and manufacturing equipment can even be customized based on the need– whether you’re looking for a machine to peel veggies, package individual cookies, or ice delicate pastries, the robotics industry is quickly becoming a customizable asset in the food processing and manufacturing industry.  

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If you’re looking to see how automation can help you in the food manufacturing industry, give us a call. RBT is an approved electrical contractor for many food production facilities, we can provide full-service electrical contracting and electrical automation and control systems that improve productivity and efficiency. Contact us today to get started.