With continuing pressures from changeover challenges, the “thinning” of manufacturing and capital equipment budget management, food and beverage companies are constantly seeking innovations to improve performance and profitability, according to PMMI’s 2016 Top to Top Summit report. Some innovation examples expressed by CPG survey participants include a broad range of machine applications, new materials, new equipment ideas, lower cost options, expanded technologies in short shelf-life products, product innovation on consumers’ unmet needs, high-speed 3-D printing that can manufacture materials on the production line, lightweight packaging materials, sustainable packaging design, new organizational business models for process improvement, and technology applications for two-pronged supply chain management at global and local levels.
As part of its ongoing outreach to CPGs professionals, PMMI conducted focus groups with 65 CPG participants last year. Topics included process improvement, workforce development, machine operations, procurement, global demands, equipment trends, sustainability, maintenance, lean manufacturing and more.
