Dairy Processing - January/February 2024 - 43

The repercussions of plant idle time in the dairy supply chain
also include financial loss. Fuel, labor costs and operational
expenses continue to accrue while vehicles are stationary,
which impacts the bottom line.
" After working at both the cooperative and plant levels of
dairy I knew there had to be a better way to generate and share
data to improve operations across the entire supply chain, " said
Jon King, chief operating officer, Milk Moovement.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) will be an
important tool for manufacturers in the future, and those who
begin exploring it now will have a leg up on competitors. AI can
help increase the efficiency in manufacturing, improve quality
control and create smart factories by connecting machines and
systems with seamless operation and real-time data analysis and
optimizing production processes.
Andy Lomasky, senior director of IT for PMMI, the
Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, urged
companies to begin exploring this technology by trying it out in
small ways.
" You don't have to tackle connecting your entire shop floor
to AI after a first go around, " he said. " Start learning. To me
that's the most important thing. Start with a small and simple
use case and learn what it takes to make it a little better the
next time. And make it iterative. Make it a process where you
continuously learn and improve. "
Roambee, Santa Clara, Calif., a supply chain intelligence
platform, is using AI to aid food supply chain companies.
The platform can predict quality compliance of shipments
days before arrival at distribution centers or at stores, and the
company said its solution can address challenges that come
with food cold chain visibility.
" Roambee's cutting-edge technology recognizes the
importance of maintaining optimal conditions during the
transportation of food and beverages, " said Sanjay Sharma, chief
executive officer, Roambee. " Beyond the time-sensitive nature
of these shipments, the susceptibility to contamination and the
need for uncompromised quality are paramount. By providing
real-time visibility and intelligent insights into the location
and condition of food, Roambee not only enhances quality of
delivery in the food industry, but also facilitates traceability,
ensuring the origin of the product can be easily determined. "
Software and services supplier Ever.Ag, Frisco, Texas,
revealed its newest solution makes use of artificial intelligence
(AI) and machine learning to produce more effective cheese
yields.
The company said it designed its newest program, Cheese
Yield Optimization, to help cheese manufacturers maximize
efficiency, reduce waste and increase profitability.
" What is exciting about Cheese Yield Optimization is it
learns from existing and new data sets to highlight operational
improvements, without taking away the 'art' of making cheese, "
said Ryan Mertes, Ever.Ag's head of manufacturing solutions.
" The system does this with recommendations tailored to
the user. "
Mertes said customers will receive results in as few as 90
days because the system uses existing data.
The AI assistance enhances decision-making at a cheese
plant, leading to improved product consistency, quality and
yield. The supplier said customers can use the technology to
improve margins and bottom lines with yield improvements and
undergrade reductions.
The company noted that its new technology also supports
workforce transitions and knowledge retention " as younger
employees take over plant management. "
Simon Drake, executive vice president of data science
solutions for Ever.Ag, called the AI-driven solution a " game
changer " for the cheese manufacturing industry.
" By integrating AI into cheese production, we're enabling
manufacturers to not only maintain but also elevate the quality
and consistency of their products, " Drake said. " This technology
represents a significant step forward in supporting the dairy
industry's move towards more sustainable and profitable
practices, ensuring that the time-honored tradition of cheese
making thrives in the modern era. "
DAIRYPROCESSING.COM | JAN-FEB 2024 43
©Ivan Traimak, zapp2photo-stock.adobe.com
http://www.Ever.Ag http://www.Ever.Ag http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Dairy Processing - January/February 2024

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