2021 Directory

Technology Focus With rapidly developing advances in digital technologies we have entered a brave new world of possibilities through concepts such as Industry 4.0, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Machine Learning, the Digital Factory, Big Data, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Through greater connectivity of humans and machines and better utilisation of data, companies within the industrial, mobile, retail, logistics, warehousing and retail sectors have the potential to become more productive, more cost-effective and even more environmentally responsible. Slow uptake Although the UK has been slower to deploy this type of technology than certain other countries – including the US and many in mainland Europe – there are several compelling reasons as to why more companies are now taking a closer look. Some of the drivers for a change in the direction of greater uptake of this type of digitally enabling technology include increasing labour costs due to the rise in minimum wage, reduced labour availability, the impact of Brexit and the weakening of the Pound. We no longer have the influx of affordable labour that we’ve previously enjoyed in certain industries including food & beverages, the sector I work in. There are also increasing energy costs to factor in as well as growing environmental concerns on the part of both companies and consumers. Track & trace Additionally, there are rising requirements for higher standards regarding energy efficiency, the need for a better control of product shelf-life and waste, increasingly high food safety standards required by trade bodies and retailers – for example, British Retail Consortium (BRC) regulations and the Tesco Food Manufacturing Standard (TFMS), as well as greater demands from consumers for full track & trace of foodstuffs purporting to be vegan, vegetarian or ethically sourced etc. The use of IT solutions focused on better track & trace capability can help to ensure companies have better visibility throughout their entire supply chain, and in so doing help companies to remain compliant both legally and in line with customer requirements. Putting in place digitally transformative technology can also provide companies with a competitive advantage and ensure they are not left behind in the technology race. Standards Standards are changing and becoming more risk-assessed rather than prescriptive. The majority of standards companies now have to meet within the food & beverages sector, for example, are largely concerned with record-keeping and traceability. Companies have a time limit to produce these records, so having this information in the cloud and inside technology rather than on paper means it can be accessed quicker and more easily from wherever you are – rather than having to hunt for a printed record off- site in a storage facility. So, traceability is key to food production and IT packages such as manufacturing execution systems (MES) – particularly these types of solutions in the cloud – are fundamental requirements. The benefits of the cloud Indeed, cloud computing is incredibly important today. However, I do see a number of sites where they still fear for the security of their data. Therefore, they ban the use of connectivity and have no outside lines or digital connection to suppliers. With a rigorous and regularly updated cybersecurity system in place security issues shouldn’t be a major concern, and by being ‘offline’ they are missing out on the many benefits of connectivity from a production and maintenance perspective, for example remote diagnostics. The right software and related equipment are now capable of fixing an issue remotely or at the very least provide OEM visiting engineers with the right diagnosis, so they know precisely which parts to bring within them. This naturally saves the time and Brave new digital world 60 www.bfpa.co.uk By Ed Keenan, Head of Process, Integrated Food Projects.  Ed Keenan: “The world of digital transformation is fast-developing and offering a raft of benefits concerning time, cost, maintenance, logistics, accuracy, safety and waste-reduction to companies within the industrial, mobile, retail, logistics and warehousing sectors.”