Changing consumer preferences and increasing demand have placed unprecedented pressure on food and beverage manufacturers and distributors. New flavors, emerging food product categories, and increasing dietary trends are driving SKU proliferation. Complex regulations, difficult work environments, and zero down-time tolerance only add supply chain challenges and strain efficiency.
While automation technologies typically help companies deal with issues such as SKU proliferation, increasing volumes and labor, food and beverage systems are historically among the most challenging to automate. Automated handling solutions must account for complexity while improving operational efficiency and ensuring reliability. System failure at any point can lead to lost sales, unacceptable waste, and damaged trust. While each industry sub-group and individual company has a unique set of challenges and requirements, there are key challenges that are common across food and beverage companies: