After years of hesitation, a well known chocolate producer in Quebec, Canada lastly took the leap and modernized their automated palletizing course of. What modified? The best timing, the proper downside, and the proper resolution. Their journey highlights key takeaways for meals producers contemplating upgrading their automation however not sure when or tips on how to begin.
The Problem: A Bottleneck in Manufacturing
This firm, with a number of places and over a thousand workers, had been increasing its retail choices. Extra merchandise meant extra demand—but in addition extra pressure on manufacturing.
Their largest problem? The second shift. Like many producers, they struggled to seek out and retain employees, particularly for late-hour positions. On prime of that, their present industrial palletizer was unreliable, liable to breakdowns, and finally failed fully final summer season. This left them with a transparent selection: both keep on with an outdated, labor-intensive course of or spend money on new automation to maintain up with demand.
The Turning Level: An Engineer Who Noticed the Huge Image
Automation wasn’t a brand new thought for them. The engineering supervisor had been in discussions with Robotiq about palletizing options for a number of years whereas working for a unique firm, however by no means had the proper alternative. When he joined this chocolate maker, he instantly acknowledged that upgrading to a contemporary, robotic palletizer may resolve their labor points and enhance effectivity.
With an ROI in beneath 2 years and the pliability to increase, the choice grew to become a straightforward one.
Key Advantages Achieved
- House Optimization: Flooring area was tight, however the brand new palletizer’s superior software program allowed them to put in it near present constructions with out interfering with operations.
- Quick Set up: Inside at some point, they have been operating their first SKU. Inside two days, full integration was full.
- Ease of Use: The earlier system required a single skilled to troubleshoot and keep it. Now, even second-shift upkeep employees may function the gear with confidence.
- Scalability: With their first robotic palletizer up and operating, 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 threat productiveness losses. The sooner you improve automation, the earlier you begin seeing returns.
- Assume Past Labor Shortages. Automation doesn’t simply resolve hiring challenges—it will possibly optimize area, velocity up manufacturing, and enhance flexibility.
- Think about Ease of Use. Fashionable options are designed for easy operation. Your staff doesn’t should be consultants in robotics to run and keep them.
- ROI Can Be Sooner Than You Assume. A payback interval beneath 2 years is affordable, however in lots of circumstances, advantages begin showing instantly with elevated productiveness and staff morale.
This chocolate maker is proof that automation doesn’t should be sophisticated or disruptive. When the proper situations align, the transition may be easy—and the outcomes, game-changing.
Should you’re going through related challenges, now is likely to be the proper time to take that subsequent step.
