The way processes are carried out in dairy plants has significantly evolved in the past few decades. Industry veterans, both on the farms and in the plants, are embracing automation to streamline their operations.
This trend has had far-reaching implications, with a bulk of the processes now being pre-programmed. Even so, automation in the dairy industry still has tremendous potential, given that several new technologies are cropping up every day.
Process Control Automation in Dairy Industry
Automation is a fast-paced enterprise. A few decades ago, the food industry was using electro-mechanical relays as their default control systems. Now, this antiquated technology has been displaced by manufacturing execution systems that use programmable information chipsets. The data bits of the production recipes are stored in the electronic memory, helping food processing plants achieve optimized ‘intelligent factory’ traits. This stored automation is called ‘Embedded Automation’.
Integrated Dairy Processing Plant Management
Automation in the dairy industry is currently geared towards creating a comprehensive, integrated dairy plant management system. Automation consultants can advise factories on how to design an MES that combines all dairy processes into a single seamless procedure. Automation Systems and Controllers that have a user-friendly interface can support plant managers in tracking product transfer from one production section to another.
Custom Automation in the Dairy Industry
The expanding range of products necessitates custom, controlled systems that can help increase dairy plant efficiency. No two dairy plants are the same, and automation systems vary in production lines and procedures. Dairy equipment suppliers can offer customized solutions for a factory’s needs.
Also read, How Automation Benefits the Food Processing Industry?
How automation has transformed dairy industry manufacturing:
Food Safety
Automation engineering decreases the need for human control, removing the risk of human error throughout the production process. With increased foodborne illnesses, authorities are increasing the restrictions to ensure uniform product safety and quality. Automation of processes like controlled cleaning from a central cleaning system during the production prevents food product contamination due to any unwanted mixing of processed products with unprocessed products and accidental mixing of products with the cleaning solutions.
Consistent Quality
Automated production cells can perform for long durations with minor variability, offering consistency in the products that are processed. The dynamic optimization of these processes can help standardize all the products that leave the plant. Controllers enable plant managers to fine-tune their production units using defined workflows.
Increased Production Capacity
Automation in the dairy industry has produced several robotic systems that work at a consistent pace, 24 hours daily. This removes the limitation of human labor. The instruments can gain high-efficiency figures of around 90% uptime. The installation of new production processes without necessarily impacting ongoing operations can help boost capacity throughout the plants.
Better Production Control
Integrated systems like the Manufacturing Execution System can offer dairy farms and plants precise command over their manufacturing processes. The information management systems produce automated reports for the production data, delivering efficiency and optimizing operations.
Traceability
Automation in dairy processing plant management allows for efficient tracking of products. You can build an inventory tracking system that starts at the reception of the raw materials and lasts throughout the production process to then batch tracking the completed products. It helps in easier tracing and investigation of defective products that may end up on the shelves.
Automation in dairy industry manufacturing processes can support businesses in adopting effective practices to improve production control & increase their capacity. It can also help to lower the number of errors on the production floor and boost production consistency. Neologic Engineers has experience in commissioning fully automated dairy and can offer you the right equipment that will propel your business towards success.