30 n FOOD AND BEVERAGE March 2024 www.drivesncontrols.com Striking a balance between automation and humans With the continuing advances in automation and AI being portrayed as the future, many seem to be forgetting that human labour continues to play a vital role across a range of industries – and will do so for years to come. There is no doubt that there are extraordinary bene ts to integrating new technologies into the food industry. Automation and AI can take away the burden of unappealing repetitive tasks and improve eciency in a variety of ways, yet human beings cannot be replaced completely. Increased eciency, consistency and production capacity are some of the bene ts from automating food factories. Streamlined production, faster turnarounds and reduced reliance on manual labour result in cost savings. But there are many other advantages. New technologies oering visualisation and remote visibility are automating procedures such as food inspection, and barcode and date code inspection, generating data that helps to improve traceability. User monitoring, historical trends, and tracked user changes have become vital in an industry where traceability and security are of the utmost importance. Automated data-collection has long been a signi cant asset to the food industry, and tools are being developed that oer even better opportunities. Having the ability to identify potential issues more easily, to make predictions and meet speci cations, eases a variety of processes, and makes it simpler to cope with increases in demand. In environments such as food factories, where maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene are paramount, automated material-handling can play a signi cant role in elevating these standards. With humans being the main source of contamination, reducing the number of people coming into contact with ingredients and products can have a particularly positive impact. Irreplaceable humans? In a nutshell, AI lacks the emotional and creative intelligence that humans possess, as well as the ability to predict and handle unexpected situations – essentially the quality of adaptability, and the ability to act in a reactive manner. Whether dealing with changes in production processes or troubleshooting problems – which human beings are naturally equipped to handle thanks to our critical thinking and decision-making skills – automated systems use pre-programmed algorithms that wouldn't be able to respond automatically to new circumstances. And while AI can analyse data and make suggestions, creating new recipes, avours, and food products involves creativity and innovation that are exclusive to humans. Tasks requiring cultural understanding, aesthetic judgment and ethical or moral decisions can’t be assigned to AI systems. Humans are also key to ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations, making real-time decisions based on intuition and experience to maintain the highest levels of food safety. Automated systems can be entrusted with quality control processes thanks to tools that can monitor production lines for potential defects or errors; however, trained individuals also need to be available to intervene when issues arise that need to be resolved with appropriate judgment calls. Ultimately, AI needs human experience and feedback to work eectively. Security has long been a topic of concern when it comes to automation and AI. Data can be targeted easily by cyberattacks, and yet human beings could also be the cause of data leaks – accidental or otherwise. The realtime data that new technologies oer is becoming irreplaceable, but equally, protecting network infrastructure by ensuring those who use it do so in the right ways is vital, showcasing that yet again, an eective balance between humans and automation is fundamental. While AI and automation can streamline processes, enhance quality control, and optimise crucial aspects of food production, their value is enhanced when they are used to complement human eorts rather than replace them entirely. For instance, simple, repetitive routine tasks can be handled eectively by AI systems, allowing human beings to focus on more complex tasks. And though automated data analysis allows trends and patterns to emerge that would be near-impossible for humans to identify, we are still needed to look at this data, interpret it and make informed decisions. Human beings and AI should work in synergy to create safer, more ecient, and innovative food production environments. The strengths of both can and should be harnessed to achieve higher levels of productivity, eciency, and innovation, and being aware of the unique capabilities of each is vital to creating the right environments. n Ian Hart, business development director at adi Projects, a division of the engineering rm adi Group, suggests that success in the food and drinks industry involves creating an environment where human beings and AI can work together hand-in-hand, maximising the benets for all. Food and drink automation is enhanced when it complements human eorts rather than replacing them
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