With the rushed production schedules at plants, having key process information is not the only data needed, but key device data allows scheduled maintenance.

New remote service tools and robust asset management platforms enable food and beverage companies to envision AI-based strategies and facilitate product innovation across the enterprise.

While you can measure and chart OEE manually, today’s AI and ML-based technologies with smart sensors can help processors find the little things that can improve availability, performance and quality — leading to autonomous manufacturing.

The sensors are suited for challenges when measuring points aren’t easily accessible, located in dusty areas and harsh environments with extreme process temperatures and process conditions. 

As the regulatory landscape becomes increasingly complex, forward-thinking organizations are turning to Internet of Things (IoT) technology to ensure adherence to evolving standards throughout the production process.

Equipped with IO-Link, the SM Foodmag detects current flow rate, total volume and flow direction, and offers conductivity and temperature monitoring.

Evigence offers food companies and cold-chain leaders data-driven freshness insights at the case or unit level needed to boost end-to-end supply chain efficiency, guarantee food quality, reduce food loss and manage compliance.

Even though new processing and packaging equipment today has maintenance tools built in, proper planning and integration into an enterprise maintenance management system makes repair activities easier to track and helps prevent a stockroom full of expensive parts that are never needed.

While laboratory and other manual methods have been used for years, new automated moisture measurement and control systems can play an important role in improving product quality monitoring, increasing plant efficiency, and lowering energy costs.

The JBS Principe facility is FOOD ENGINEERING’s 2024 Plant of the Year for its daring modern take on traditional Italian-style dried meat production.