< Previouswww.fdiforum.net SUPPLY CHAIN 30 logistics also enables effective inventory management in the food industry. With perishable and time-sensitive products, maintaining optimal inventory levels is essential. Data-led demand forecasting, keeping tabs on stock, and verifying and checking details attached to orders will help prevent excess inventory or stockouts, which can lead to product wastage or customer dissatisfaction. Even when stock levels aren’t an issue, proper rotation techniques such as ‘first in, first out’ should be integrated as part of your approach to logistics, seeing to it that older stock is used or dispatched before it can spoil in storage. This simple, low hassle yet successful tool of the trade can be teamed with real-time inventory tracking systems, which enable better visibility and control over stock levels, help prevent overstocking and lower the risk of product expiration even further. Overseeing inventory, choosing the best mode of transportation, and efforts towards every item being picked and packed with care are all part of the gold standard of food production that is supply chain efficiency. Streamlined stock rotation, transportation and distribution all contribute to highly efficient supply, which ensures that products or services are delivered to customers on time, at the right quality and quantity, and at the lowest possible cost. By minimising delays, reducing transportation costs, and optimising storage and handling, logistics eliminates bottlenecks and ensures a smooth flow of food products from suppliers to consumers. This means your business can achieve shorter lead times, increasing your attractiveness to customers compared to competitors while boosting overall performance. Less time wasted on shipping out product also grants more freedom of movement when adjusting to market dynamics such as shifting supply and demand and updating pricing strategies or marketing tactics to stay ahead of the competition. © stock.adobe.com/kokliang1981 © stock.adobe.com/pressmasterwww.fdiforum.net SUPPLY CHAIN 31 The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology Experts in the handling of powders, bulk solids and particulate materials Consultancy services and training System Design I Material Characterisation I Storage and Discharge I Product Quality I *Abrasion and Wear I Pneumatic Conveying I Product Feeders I Expert Witness I Particle Breakage I Dosing I Flow Properties I ‘providing cost effective solutions to industrial problems’ bulksolids.com +44 20 8331 8646 wolfson‐enquiries@gre.ac.uk Logistical factors directly impact many concerns that any food business operative needs to be mindful of. Product freshness, food safety and customer satisfaction are just a few, but they’re a strong start when considering your logistics strategy. By being open to trying out new techniques and refining processes, anyone in the food industry can achieve cost-effective operations, reduce waste and ultimately provide consumers with a reliable food supply they’re willing to invest in. Beginning with these pillars of customer satisfaction, and ensuring you remain accountable and responsible through traceability, sets you up for expanding into seasonal and regional demand variations or international trade. Once the essentials are all in place, there’s unlimited freedom to how you can expand on your solid, safe and market-pleasing plan of action.www.fdiforum.net FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 32 Facilities management has changed over the years as ever more challenging conditions force companies to try and squeeze more out of less, and make the most of what they have rather than invest in more. F acilities management can be most effectively described as “ensuring the facility operates” but that term misses out on some of the key nuances of proper management. While it’s important that any facility – be it an office, distribution centre or factory – runs to its minimum requirements, facilities management is more than just making sure the doors open and the equipment works. It is ensuring that the space and the facilities available work to the highest standards available, reducing the stress and distractions that those who work there need to deal with, and thus in the long-term making a business more streamlined and more efficient. Gone are the days where managers might seek to drive their staff into exhaustion in efforts to increase productivity – as we now know that a workforce which is able to maintain an efficient pace continuously, is more Getting the most out of a facility 34 Áwww.fdiforum.net FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 33 © stock.adobe.com/Nataliiawww.fdiforum.net FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 34 valuable than one that is burned out too soon. Recent times have made this especially clear after COVID, the lockdown, the soaring energy costs and now the Great Resignation and difficulties in recruitment, getting the most out of your employees is slowly giving way to making sure your employees stay with you for the long run. With so much uncertainty in the air at the moment, especially for those doing work in the UK, there is a push towards offsetting costs through overheads, rather than hoping for that lucky break on a new contract that may or may not materialise. For many in the food and drink industry, when facilities management is mentioned, this refers to some form of manufacturing plant or processing line. Often with tens of thousands of units travelling through the system on a daily basis. The smallest hiccups with efficiency on such a line can have drastic effects through the entire system and considering that large retailers are some of the least forgiving in terms of deadlines – and that there are many competitors in this industry, then it becomes obvious that companies cannot afford to take any risks in this regard. Automating the system wherever possible is the preferred method of increasing efficiency, as this takes out the ever-unreliable human element which could slow things down. On a managerial level, software can be used to ease the burden on an Operations Manager, by organising and arranging shift hours based on delivery times of raw materials to the processing plant. This removes another task for the manager to try and deal with, while also instantaneously checking the shifts of workers within the factory – and assigning those that are free to the task. Another benefit to higher levels of automation is of course the protection it can offer to other members of the team. Most health and safety accidents occur as a result of over-working, or poor allocation of resources, leaving a single worker to try and lift more than they realistically can. An automated system does not make the same mistakes, and as such reduces the risk in that regard. And of course, health and safety does play a large role in facilities management. It is not uncommon for sections of a plant to be closed down when an accident occurs, and then there is of course the injured party to try and treat – reduced productivity from those who are trying to help them. Not to mention the lost man- hours as the person recovers, and the potential for legal action as well. As such, investing in a good health and safety scheme is paramount to the successful running of a food and drink facility. In distribution centres and factories where productivity can be more easily quantified, facilities management may also make use of the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 to streamline, monitor and allow for direct involvement of management in every aspect of work. Here, systems can be more robust and more thorough, as the work is more easily www.fdiforum.net FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 35 HOTWIND MISTRAL VULCAN Integrated temperature controls Integrated temperature probes Brushless power motors Integrated power electronics Heat output & air volume steplessly adjustable with potentiometers Protection against heating elements or devices overheating Our extensive product range includes: Innovative, system-compatible air heaters Powerful, robust blowers Compact, flexible hot-air blowers Comprehensive range of accessories Process Heat PLUG 'n' LEISTER R Tel: +44 (0)1707 331111 info@welwyntoolgroup.co.uk www.welwyntoolgroup.co.uk quantified and graded as opposed to in an accountant’s office or a commercial estate agent’s workplace. This is an advantage the food and drink industry has, and one that needs to be leveraged by those in charge of a factory, warehouse or other facility. It is no longer enough to simply run a process by its barest standards, but – in an ever more competitive and uncertain world – facility managers must get the most out of their workforce. And quite often, they will have to prove and quantify the improvement they bring as well. Still, as more and more companies look to make the most of what they have, facilities management will play an increasing role in the workplace. Its definition may change even more over the coming years and may one day even become a required or expected managerial position within any company. © stock.adobe.com/Mongkolchonwww.fdiforum.net 36 Future Food Forum 20 - 21 September Dubai, UAE The 5th Annual Future Food Forum is a transformative event aimed at fostering the sustainable wellbeing of the food and beverage manufacturing industry in the MENA region. With a positive outlook for the industry driven by increasing population and per capita disposable income, it is essential to address the changing consumption patterns and the need for unique and diverse foods to promote health and wellbeing. For more information visit https://futurefoodseries.ae/ London Packaging Week 21 - 22 September London, UK The four events at London Packaging Week (Packaging Première, PCD, PLD, Food & Consumer Pack) combine to create a dynamic and inspirational event that will drive packaging innovation, business and connections at the heart of the UK’s luxury and consumer products markets. Hundreds of the world’s biggest suppliers and thousands of designers, packaging developers, marketers, founders and buyers rely on the event to drive their innovation and creativity. Create the future of your packaging at London Packaging Week. For more information visit www.londonpackagingweek.com/ Plant Based World Expo Europe 15 - 16 November London, UK Plant Based World Expo Europe is the only 100% plant based professional event to attract an audience of buyers and food and beverage professionals from across retail, food service and public sector catering. This unique event combines an international exhibition of the biggest and best products in the market, as well as insightful sessions, high-level networking and tasting opportunities. For more information visit https://plantbasedworldeurope.com/ Fi Europe 28 - 30 November Frankfurt, Germany Food ingredients Europe has been uniting the world’s leading food & beverage suppliers, buyers, R&D experts and production specialists since its launch in 1986. Billions of Euros worth of business have been generated as a direct result of the connections made at Fi Europe events. It is the market leader in helping F&B ingredient companies find the right people and solutions to take their business to the next level. Each year, it showcases a diverse range of innovative, new ingredients & services and over its lifespan, has welcomed more than 500,000 people through its doors. For more information visit www.figlobal.com/fieurope/en/home.html Paris Packaging Week 17 - 18 January Paris, France Paris is the global capital of the beauty, luxury, premium drinks and personal care markets. So it’s no surprise that it is also home to the world’s leading packaging innovation events. Focusing respectively on aerosols, beauty packaging, premium drinks packaging and packaging for luxury products, ADF, PCD, PLD and Packaging Première bring together thousands of brands with packaging and material suppliers to create the future of their brands. Together, the four events make Paris Packaging Week – the world’s leading annual meeting place for packaging innovators. For more information visit www.parispackagingweek.com/en/ Gulfood 19 - 23 February Dubai, UAE Give your business the strongest start to 2024 at Gulfood, the one place where the world gathers annually to source from an unrivalled F&B product showcase, handpicked from every corner of the Events & Showswww.fdiforum.net 37 © stock.adobe.com/exclusive-design OPE ONFERENCE & EXPO Cologne, Germany 8-9 November 2023 EUR C asteW omPlasticrF EEFR orldAW SolutionsFor yIndustr FREE NOW EXHIBITION TTEND FREE REGISTER th VE10%V ASSEE EXPO PFR your for WEGISTER NOR TEST ENCE ONFERC 500+ DELEGA TENDEESTT 000+,4 ASPEAKERS 130+ EXHIBITORS 250+ SA TOA eeplasticfr with ENCEONFERC onthe VE10% or SA TGE_PWFFDI1 e-world.com h: e 10 globe. For more information visit www.gulfood.com/ Packaging Innovations & Empack 21 - 22 February Birmingham, UK Packaging Innovations & Empack is the UK’s essential annual event driving business and innovation across the whole packaging journey from primary packaging, secondary packaging, contract packing and fulfilment, labelling and printing and packing and processing technology. For more information visit www.packagingbirmingham.com/ Future Food-Tech 21 - 22 March San Francisco, USA As the world adjusts to the impacts of climate change, conflict, and a changing economic landscape, securing access to sustainable and nutritious food is more important than ever. The Future Food-Tech summit is a global hub, connecting international food brands, ingredient providers, investors, start-ups and technology leaders, whilst digging into the crucial issues facing the food industry today. For more information visit https://futurefoodtechsf.com/ IFE 25 - 27 March London, UK IFE, International Food and Drink Event, will welcome 27,000 food and drink professionals to come together face-to-face to sample new products, make lasting business connections, and find suppliers who’ll give your business a competitive edge. Your free ticket will give you unrivalled access FRUIT LOGISTICA 7 - 9 February Berlin, Germany FRUIT LOGISTICA is the world’s most important trade fair for the fresh produce industry and its direct access to the global market. At FRUIT LOGISTICA you can find the complete range of products, services and technical solutions from every part of the value chain - whether in seed, fruit and vegetable development or packaging and automation. The fair covers the entire spectrum of the value chain - from the producer to the consumer. For more information visit www.fruitlogistica.com/en/ to source, sample, and try the latest innovations from 1,500 international and UK suppliers set to boost your business in 2024 and beyond. You’ll also be able to hear from trailblazers discussing the hot topics and latest trends spanning the food and drink sector. For more information visit www.ife.co.uk/ www.fdiforum.net CLASSIFIED 38 Pallets Gressenhall | Dereham | Norfolk | NR20 4DT | +44 (0)1362 861066 | www.premierpalletinverter.co.uk Wasterwater treatment Nutrients & Neutralisers For all types of wastewater treatment Reduce operational costs Comply with trade effluent discharge regulations Improve overall plant performance www.omexenvironmental.com Email: environmental@omex.com Tel: 01553 770092 ENVIRONMENTAL @OMEXCompanies Often imitated… …never equalled You can feature your company in our hugely popular Online Directory with a description, contact details and a hyperlink. 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