There are various trends that are currently impacting the food and beverage (F&B) industry and digital automation and energy management company Schneider Electric has solutions that can assist to navigate this, with digital technology and sustainability highlighted as key to driving this industry forward. 

This was noted during Schneider Electric’s Food and Beverage Innovation Day, held in Johannesburg, on June 21.

The first trend is around commodity prices, with these fluctuating depending on elements such as location, geopolitical tensions, where materials are sourced and inflation, besides others.

A second trend being observed is that with a new, younger generation entering the workforce, the culture of manufacturing is changing, and further, knowledge is being lost as the older generation leaves with this having not been institutionalised. 

The third trend is around capital and operational expenditure, with manufacturers struggling to know where and how to invest in their factories, given that there are scarce resources to deploy. 

Fourthly is the desire for a speedy return on investment.

Fifth is the challenge of ageing infrastructure, with manufacturers needing these to be future-proof as equipment and technology continuously evolve.

Lastly, there are market regulations needing to be adhered to, therefore, traceability is important.

In response to these trends, Schneider Electric said it was positioning itself as a technology company, with acquisitions geared towards this.

The company’s approach towards mobility in factories is to have these resemble a similar user interface to common technology to ensure familiarity for users.

Also, with sensors being implemented all over, there is considerable information and data on hand, and this presents an opportunity to aggregate and mine this for useful insights.

From a simulated environment perspective, Schneider has developed tools that can replicate a plant in digital form, to pressure test this to ensure it is optimal before it is deployed. This also enables virtual reality for training purposes. 

The company also has a suite of software that enables the aggregation of data to enable smart designs of equipment, at a more efficient rate.