SUPPLY CHAIN CONNECTING theF by Allison Gibeson | dairyprocessing@sosland.com supply chain Automation is increasing efficiencies from " dirt to fork. " 44 MAY-JUN 2022 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM rom reducing the amount of labor required to run a dairy processing facility to connecting plants with the farms where they source their ingredients, automation is playing a key role across the dairy supply chain to increase efficiencies, profitability and transparency. While automation was becoming integrated into the supply chain well before the pandemic, the events of the past two years have sped the rate at which such technologies are being adopted. MANAGING THE LABOR ISSUES " The Great Resignation " has made finding enough labor a challenge for numerous industries, and the dairy industry is no exception. According to Ryan Mertes, chief solutions officer for Dairy.com, Frisco, Texas, the insufficient labor force has caused dairy plants to minimize the number of unique SKUs and specialty products they produce. Instead, stock.adobe.comhttp://www.Dairy.com http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM