Drives & Controls March 2022

27 www.drivesncontrols.com March 2022 FOOD AND BEVERAGE n the Norfolk-based confectionery manufacturer, Kinnerton. The project connected various streams of data – from initial chocolate mould-filling to product cooling and packaging – centrally using a Siemens Totally Integrated Automation platform. This gave Kinnerton a real-time picture of its whole production process – from conveyor belts to pick-and-place packing robots – for the first time, boosting productivity on one line by 15%, thus increasing output and sales. AI in practice Apart from using data to pinpoint manufacturing inefficiencies to cut costs and raise productivity, there are some trailblazing examples of how food and drink manufacturers are capitalising on the opportunities that data presents. For example, some bakeries are using AI to create perfect bread rolls by feeding algorithms with criteria such as the quality of flour, water and yeast, as well as theoretical knowledge and practical experience of the production process. In addition, the AI algorithms also incorporate the results of human testers who judge the bread based on characteristics such as look, crispness, taste or smell. In the drinks sector, the London-based IntelligentX Brewing Co is brewing craft beer created using AI assistance. A chatbot asks consumers a series of questions, the AI collects the feedback and interprets the answers, which then influence the brewing process. So, what do you have to do to take your first steps to unlocking the massive potential of data and AI? According to Saad Waqar, Siemens’ business development manager for digitalisation, the key is to take a holistic approach to digitalisation, connecting real- time data from across the factory floor and presenting it accessibly, so that progress can be measured and managed. “Where AI is used successfully in an industry, there has been an evolution, a progression,” he says. “You need a strategic mindset to work towards that. That means starting from the right place with the right answers to the right questions.” The starting point, he adds, is data collection that pulls vital information from across a plant. The next step is choosing the platform and deciding whether data is needed for real-time visualisation or for long-term analytics, as well as where it needs to be stored. The third stage is analytics, which Waqar reveals can be the biggest barrier. “It’s here you try and make sense of it all,” he explains. “For every data point to capture, you will be missing others. So, to make sense of what you already have, you will have to keep going back to collect more data. This is the stage that requires the most patience.” The next stage is the algorithm – AI’s building block. “You need to know where you are going to run it,”Waqar explains. “Depending on how time-critical these decisions are will help to justify whether you are going to make decisions at the edge or in the cloud.” The final stage is the optimisation, and feeding the AI engine with more data. “The more data, the better the AI,” Waqar argues. “You need a lot of data to make decisions. This is where industrial edge computing helps. It collects and analyses data at the machine level to provide live status and diagnostic information about a machine’s underlying systems. It allows you to change the data and run again. It’s a loop and you must feed the process to continually optimise.” According to Thornhill, the UK food and beverage sector has so far only touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to implementing data analytics and AI. “Automation and digitalisation is within reach of all manufacturers, regardless of size,” he contends. “But the industry must adopt these changes soon. Thinking longer-term is important, and this is where smart investments through smart finance can support businesses that are keen to invest in modernisation, but don’t have the cash flow to pay for it all up front. Recent research by Siemens’ Financial Services business showed that the window of opportunity to gain competitive advantages through digitalisation investments is narrowing, with a “tipping point” of around five years – after which manufacturers will be playing catch-up. n Our portfolio Power Amplifiers Positioning controls Pressure controls Synchronization controls Pump controls Network connection All information under www.w-e-st.de contact@w-e-st.de Universally applicable Electronics for your hydraulics Personal consulting Real-time data can transform manufacturing operations in the bakery industry