Digitisation is currently the number one topic in the manufacturing industry across all sectors. The question often arises as to how and, above all, with what production companies can start without making extensive investments.
Dr. Alexander Schulz, Head of Digital Services at ESPERA, explains 5 important steps of digitisation in food industry.
Transfer labeling relevant data fully automatic and in real time from your ERP system to the respective labeling lines. This makes it possible to always have the daily updated labelling data on the ESPERA systems. A flexible and fast reaction to market price changes is possible. At the same time you can avoid redundant data storage. Learn more in this video about Digitization of machine data flows:
For example, the thermal head of labelling systems. New sensor technology makes it possible to monitor the wear status and print quality of thermal heads, and to detect the end of the thermal heads service life. This prevents unplanned downtimes for changing the thermal head. In addition, this technology prevents products with worse label prints from reaching the retail narkets. ESPERA machines support a full control of the thermal head with the new Smart Control function. Learn more about this unique technology online at:
https://espera-next-generation.com/smarthead/
Free capacities as well as bottlenecks along the production line can be displayed quickly and easily thanks to supporting process software solutions to adjust the production planning. ESPERA offers the software tool ESPV - ESPERA Production View - as an easy to use and cost attractive solution. Intuitive for everyone and immediately applicable, the system helps to optimize the production process and to increase the line efficiency at the same time. Simply visualized - everything at a glance:
Recalls by retailers can cause great damage to manufacturing companies not only in the short term, but also in the long term. Reasons for a typical recall by the retaillers are incorrectly declared allergen or nutritional information on products or worse legible label printing.
Barcodes on product packages for example can be impossible to for scanner systems due to a worse print and are therefore immediately recalled by the retaillers. Inspection systems prevent this as a preventive measure. Special high-speed cameras check packages and label information in real time and automatically sort out worse products. Learn more about inspection systems for checking freshly packed products here:
…and give them time to handle with this topic. Start with small, manageable tools that can be easily and quickly implemented by the employees and create the "aha" effect. Because digitisation cannot be forced upon employees. Bit by bit, the understanding for it will show up. Some companies are hiring employees with digital orientation for the digital transformation process. This is a good approach if the company can provide the necessary capital. However, the entire production process must be convinced of new, digital technologies. This is only possible if all employees identify with the digital transformation. The first step is the simplicity of operating new systems in an intuitive way. The second hurdle is the added value of using digital features. Then you will manage to convince employees of new, digital technologies and accept the change.
We will be happy to advise you!
Dr. Alexander Schulz
Head of Digital Services
Contact: schulz@espera.de
Service: +49 203 30540 | info@espera.com
© 2017 ESPERA-WERKE GmbH · P.O. Box 10 04 55 · 47004 Duisburg · Germany · Tel. +49 203 30 54 0 · Fax +49 203 30 54 275 · info@espera.com
