Improving Efficiency in Food Manufacturing Operations and Systems

Haider, Julfikar, Petty, David, Tebboune, Sofiane and Kennedy, Ian (2018) Improving Efficiency in Food Manufacturing Operations and Systems. In: Advances in Manufacturing Technology XXXII: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Manufacturing Research, incorporating the 33rd National Conference on Manufacturing Research, 11 September 2018 - 13 September 2018, Skövde, Sweden.

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Abstract

This paper summarises the lessons learnt from a study of continuous improvement and information system implementation in a ready-meal food manufacturing company. The objectives of the study were to increase flexibility and capacity within the manufacturing operation by reducing wastage and improving efficiency, and by implementing a more robust Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to enable further growth by improving transaction processing efficiency, customer service, standards and regulatory compliance, traceability, product cost, production and materials planning and performance analysis. The study started with a systematic review of existing activities and practices in the organisation and identified the factors causing waste and inefficiency in manufacturing operations and analysed these to generate potential solutions in the form of worksheets and areas of good practice. In addition, the options for different commercially available ERP packages were assessed to enable an informed choice to be made for implementation in order to realise operational improvement.