Within the coronary heart of the Pacific Northwest, a frozen vegetable packaging firm confronted a rising problem: discovering and retaining staff for tedious, repetitive end-of-line duties. Being in a rural space, their labor pool was restricted, making hiring tough and turnover excessive. To keep up and scale their operations, they turned to automation—and after two years of exploration, they lastly took the leap.
The ache level: labor shortages and operational constraints
Operating two shifts a day, six days per week, this firm had a devoted operator on the finish of every of their 4 packaging strains. The issue? Recruiting and protecting folks in these roles was an ongoing battle. They knew automation might clear up this situation, however they wanted an answer that made monetary sense and match inside their area constraints.
Their preferrred return on funding (ROI) goal was 12 months, however given the severity of their labor challenges, they have been keen to stretch to 18 months. In the long run, the automation resolution they selected got here in just below their authentic 12-month ROI purpose—making the choice a simple one as soon as inside approvals have been secured.
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Selecting the best automation resolution
Past fixing labor shortages, this firm had three key automation necessities:
- Compact Footprint – A big centralized palletizer wasn’t an possibility. They wanted a system that match inside their present area whereas permitting for future growth.
- Ease of Use – With no in-house robotic programmers, they wanted a system easy sufficient for his or her present staff to function and troubleshoot.
- Scalability – Their SKUs diverse in run charges, weights, and capacities, so that they wanted a versatile system that would deal with numerous product varieties effectively.
Through the years, our robotic capabilities advanced to satisfy their wants. The flexibility to carry out multi-pick operations and deal with extra weight made automation a fair higher match. After seeing our options at Pack Expo for 2 years in a row, they knew we have been the appropriate associate.
The lesson: don’t wait to automate
This firm, like many others, waited years earlier than making the leap to automation. In hindsight, that delay price them money and time. If that they had applied automation two years earlier, they might have already recouped their funding and seen extra effectivity features.
For firms contemplating automation, the important thing takeaway is evident: Begin early. Begin small if wanted, however begin. Doing nothing means dropping out on productiveness, effectivity, and price financial savings that would compound over time.
This firm’s story is a testomony to the ability of automation in overcoming workforce challenges and setting the stage for long-term development. For those who’re dealing with comparable struggles, don’t wait—discover your choices at the moment.
