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 best downside, and the best resolution. Their journey highlights key takeaways for meals producers contemplating upgrading their automation however uncertain when or methods 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 additionally extra pressure on manufacturing.
Their largest difficulty? The second shift. Like many producers, they struggled to seek out and retain staff, particularly for late-hour positions. On high of that, their present industrial palletizer was unreliable, susceptible to breakdowns, and ultimately failed fully final summer season. This left them with a transparent selection: both follow an outdated, labor-intensive course of or put money into new automation to maintain up with demand.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 couple of years whereas working for a special firm, however by no means had the best alternative. When he joined this chocolate maker, he instantly acknowledged that upgrading to a contemporary, robotic palletizer may remedy their labor points and enhance effectivity.
With an ROI in underneath 2 years and the pliability to increase, the choice grew to become a straightforward one.
Key Advantages Achieved
- Area Optimization: Ground 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 in the future, they have been operating their first SKU. Inside two days, full integration was full.
- Ease of Use: The earlier system required a single professional to troubleshoot and preserve it. Now, even second-shift upkeep workers may function the tools with confidence.
- Scalability: With their first robotic palletizer up and operating, they’re already planning for a second one.
What Different Meals Producers Can Be taught
- Don’t Anticipate a Breakdown to Automate. In case your tools 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 remedy hiring challenges—it could actually optimize area, velocity up manufacturing, and improve flexibility.
- Think about Ease of Use. Fashionable options are designed for easy operation. Your crew doesn’t should be specialists in robotics to run and preserve them.
- ROI Can Be Sooner Than You Assume. A payback interval underneath 2 years is cheap, however in lots of instances, advantages begin showing instantly with elevated productiveness and crew morale.
This chocolate maker is proof that automation doesn’t must be difficult or disruptive. When the best situations align, the transition will be clean—and the outcomes, game-changing.
For those who’re dealing with comparable challenges, now is perhaps the best time to take that subsequent step.
