Labor shortages remain a major challenge for snack makers and wholesale bakeries. It’s a struggle to hire and retain workers, especially ones with the skill sets needed to maintain production as operations become more sophisticated. As a result, companies are considering how technology and automation can relieve staffing shortages.
Automating manual tasks can improve retention by minimizing repetitive, physically-demanding tasks, improving safety, and making the workday more fulfilling. Automation and technologies such as easy-to-use, intuitive controls and remote diagnostics can help operators be more self-sufficient and broaden the work area each operator oversees. Reducing the need for team members cuts costs, lowers recruitment needs, and accommodates lower-skilled workers. Automation also makes actionable information more accessible to operators and mechanics, boosts accuracy and line speed, and improves the training experience via newer procedures and guidance tools such as augmented reality, which offer the potential for a higher level of engagement and shorter learning curve for new hires or personnel accepting new responsibilities.