Companies Scouting Suppliers Prioritize Machine Cost, Parts and Service, Cleanability

The challenges created by COVID-19 are clearly reflected in the attributes manufacturers prioritize when evaluating machine suppliers. The pandemic cut deeply into manufacturers’ bottom lines, especially those that endured forced closures as a result of safety precautions.

While machine cost is always on manufacturers’ radars, it has become even more important after the difficult years of pandemic production, with 45% of respondents saying cost is an essential part of their supplier evaluation process. And that priority toward cost extends beyond the initial purchase.

“More important than the machine price is the overall lifetime costs – we need to evaluate parts, labor and preventative maintenance,” an engineering representative at a large poultry company said.

Companies struggled to source parts and labor through the COVID-19 Pandemic.PMMI Business Intelligence, 2022 Meat, Poultry, Seafood & Alternative Proteins: Automation, Expansion, Sanitation.Pandemic-related supply chain woes severely impacted protein manufacturers in a variety of ways, including acquiring the parts and labor needed to maintain their machines. Forty two percent of respondents stated the availability of both parts and technicians has become their top supplier priority.

“The most important attributes we look for when selecting our suppliers are their proven design and integration skills, remote access for maintenance, and the resources to repair our systems when needed,” a plant engineer at an industry leading company said.

The pandemic also placed renewed emphasis on sanitation standards. Consumers have a heightened concern about the safety of their products in light of the pandemic, and manufacturers are acutely aware of both this consumer concern and their own urgent need to minimize the spread of illness among their workers.

As a result, 25% of manufacturers say the cleanability of machine offerings is a key supplier attribute as they seek to allay public concerns.

“Meeting sanitation standards is extremely important and we need flexible equipment to accommodate our customers’ needs,” a VP of operations at a contract packager said.

Source: PMMI Business Intelligence, 2022 Meat, Poultry, Seafood & Alternative Proteins: Automation, Expansion, Sanitation

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