Hank Hogan

Contributing Editor

Getting supply chain management and planning right is one of the most effective shock absorbers any food and beverage processor can have, shielding them from fluctuations in availability and demand.

How to Tame an Unpredictable Supply Chain

Supplies are being disrupted both coming and going for food and beverage manufacturers. Shifting philosophies, combined with a range of digital technologies, could help make operations more predictable and resilient.

Predictive maintenance uses data from sensors to detect problems well before machines go down, making it possible to schedule repairs at the best possible time.

Moving Maintenance From Preventive to Predictive

The technology is available to provide the kind of maintenance know-how that will keep operations humming along. But the average plant will need to overcome some hurdles to realize the benefits.

Key Technology’s Zephyr horizontal-motion conveyor minimizes bounce to reduce product damage, noise, and loss of seasoning.

Innovations in Flexibility, Reliability Keep Products Moving

Particularly with the uncertainty that the pandemic brought with it, industry suppliers are working to provide more flexible, reliable, hygienic conveyors, with an increased level of automation.

In this rotary batch mixer at Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters, internal flights direct beans toward and through a stationary discharge as the vessel rotates until fully evacuated.

New Advances in Mixing and Blending Meet Merging Challenges

As food and beverage manufacturers face changing market demands, safety requirements, and sustainability goals, mixing and blending technologies are meeting market challenges with increased automation, rapid cleaning, and customized approaches.