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 every week, this firm had a devoted operator on the finish of every of their 4 packaging strains. The issue? Recruiting and holding individuals in these roles was an ongoing battle. They knew automation may clear up this situation, however they wanted an answer that made monetary sense and match inside their house constraints.
Their splendid return on funding (ROI) goal was 12 months, however given the severity of their labor challenges, they had been keen to stretch to 18 months. In the long run, the automation answer they selected got here in slightly below their unique 12-month ROI aim—making the choice a straightforward one as soon as inner approvals had been secured.
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Selecting the best automation answer
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 house whereas permitting for future enlargement.
- Ease of Use – With no in-house robotic programmers, they wanted a system easy sufficient for his or her present workers to function and troubleshoot.
- Scalability – Their SKUs diversified in run charges, weights, and capacities, so that they wanted a versatile system that would deal with various product varieties effectively.
Over time, 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 had been the suitable 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 carried out automation two years earlier, they’d have already recouped their funding and seen extra effectivity features.
For corporations contemplating automation, the important thing takeaway is obvious: Begin early. Begin small if wanted, however begin. Doing nothing means shedding out on productiveness, effectivity, and price financial savings that would compound over time.
This firm’s story is a testomony to the facility of automation in overcoming workforce challenges and setting the stage for long-term development. Should you’re dealing with related struggles, don’t wait—discover your choices at the moment.
