Dairy Processing - January/February 2024 - 42

SUPPLY CHAIN
Minimizing
disruptions
Processors can take steps to ensure their
internal supply chain stays strong.
by Kristen Putch | kputch@sosland.com
G
iven the disruptions in manufacturing over the past few
years, companies have increased their focus on how to
internally build more resilient supply chains.
Many dairy companies still rely on manual data entry
and communication methods. This often results in errors,
miscommunications and a lack of real time visibility into
operations, all of which contribute to lost time and money.
Mechanical breakdowns, maintenance requirements and
unforeseen operational issues can lead to plant idle time,
causing disruptions in the supply chain.
TURNING TO TECHNOLOGY
For companies looking to automate their internal supply chain
management, the question is how much and how fast. They may
have automated some processes while others remain siloed and
lagging in accuracy due to dated material and timed-out data.
Available technology can help capture data as it is generated,
connect the data in a centralized view to create real-time
visibility, said Sandeep Anand, senior director, decision science,
Infor, New York. Anand was part of a panel at the IDFA Dairy
Forum in Phoenix on Jan. 23, which discussed how dairy
companies leverage their businesses with evolving technology.
" When we talk about 'the future is now', that's true, because
the technology has existed and the ability to monetize it, to
build it into your business exists now, " he said. " The question
becomes how do you start? Where do you see the value? How
do you get your organization to evangelize it? "
Anand explained that when customers he works with at
Infor ask what they are able to do with tools, such as machine
learning, he often looks backwards. By looking at the end result
a company wants to achieve, it's easier for the company to start
taking baby steps towards data-driven decision making.
42 JAN-FEB 2024 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
" Generally, when you talk about machine learning, what
kind of key benefits should you expect? " Anand asked. " Part
of the value is that you do this in real-time so you can take the
burden off of very experienced resources having to look at
spreadsheets and being able to look at information that is, in
some cases, quite complicated to make decisions when you're
in front of the customer. So, in supply chain, the value of near
real-time decision making is to help you with margins. If you're
in the business of selling your goods, if you're looking at it
from a manufacturing perspective, of course you know asset
maintenance ... the machines you're using are able to sustain
the production output at the right quality, maybe even look at it
from an efficiency perspective. "
REDUCING DOWNTIME
In the world of dairy processing, efficiency is the name of the
game. Any moment of inactivity, downtime or delays can lead to
significant losses in terms of time and money.
Dairy supply chain software company Milk Moovement,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, has a network that includes 2,500 dairy
farms and more than 5,000 users. Per its data, the company
manages more than 30 billion pounds of raw milk every year.
Some of its partners include United Dairymen of Arizona and
California Dairies Inc.
Idle time wastes valuable resources such as trucks, drivers
and equipment. The underutilization of resources leads to
inefficiency and higher operational costs. Extended idle time
can also affect the quality and freshness of dairy products,
especially in the case of raw milk. Delays in transportation can
lead to spoilage or decreased shelf life. Unpredictable delays can
disrupt delivery schedules, resulting in customer dissatisfaction
and eroded trust.
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Dairy Processing - January/February 2024

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