Automating Your Food and Beverage Plant Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

An automation roadmap identifies the key steps that help define the process of developing your automation strategy and includes a formal decision-making process on how to proceed properly.

Automation Roadmap
Get the most value by developing an automation road map

You probably wouldn’t wake up one day and decide to compete in a marathon. It takes planning, training, preparation, and commitment. Automating your plant is no different.

For example, consider the technology in the car you drive. It generally works the first time, every time, and meets your expectations.  

Why can’t it be that way in the plant? Fun­da­men­tally, your car has been designed and assembled as one complete package. Your plant and workforce have evolved over the years. Chances are, you have an interesting blend of legacy equipment with new lines and changing workforce demographics.  

You may think you’re stuck, but the truth is you need to discover where you are on your automation journey and design plans that help you get to where you need be. 

Most automation projects fail because, too frequently, basic questions like these aren’t addressed:

  • Where do I start?
  • Are my people ready? 
  • How will it pay for itself? 
  • What is critical to my business?

To help bring some clarity to this complex problem of launching (or relaunching) your automation journey, FSO Institute asked John Giles, former engineering manager for Amway, to share his insights on the automation roadmap. 

His responsibilities at Amway included developing and leading the company’s automation teams in robotics and line modernizations, while engaging with plant personnel at all level of the company.

FSO Institute: What is a brief explanation of the automation roadmap? 

Giles: The automation roadmap defines key steps to help define the process of developing an automation strategy. The roadmap uses the toll gate process (an effective project management tool), where each toll gate is a review or decision point that provides for communication, oversight, and a formal decision-making process on how to proceed. 

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