Scaling your business with production automation
Production automation increases efficiency, reduces costs, and boosts output. There are two types: partial automation, which still requires some human involvement, and full automation, where minimal human intervention is needed.
Production automation is an integral next step in business scaling. It creates larger volumes of product faster, with more consistency, and less work overall. For these reasons, it will lower your expenses and increase output.
The different levels of automation
There are two types of production automation: full and partial. Partial automation removes steps, but some human interaction is still needed. This could include moving products from one line to another or panning.
On the other hand, full automation means that limited human interaction is needed from start to finish, mainly to start and stop the machine and ensure that things are running smoothly. Also, many steps are automatically done by the line itself. An entire line can be run by a few trained employees for long periods.
“With more automation, manual labor is cut drastically,” said Johnson Yu, in-house baker for RONDO. “It is a powerful tool for any business and will increase efficiency.”
With more automation, manual labor is cut drastically. It is a powerful tool for any business and will increase efficiency.
“The artisan baker can use machinery to automate the lamination process, the sheeting process, and cut and form by hand”, said John Latshaw, parts and services manager with RONDO, in an interview with Baking Business.
Our sheeter, the Automat Cutomat, is an excellent example of partial automation. For example, if you want to produce donuts, the sheeter sheets out your dough and cuts it after it is at the right thickness. However, the steps of lowering the cutter, removing the scrap dough, and panning are up to the employees. There is some sheeting and cutting automation, but employees still need to fill in a few steps.
Your first steps into production automation
Moving into automation could be our Smart Donut Line, which does the previous steps of sheeting and cutting automatically through stamping, plus scrap removal, separation, and panning. The overall improvement in efficiency is substantial.
A step beyond this would be our highest production level for donuts, the ASTec Donut Line, a fully automated line that produces up to 30,000 donuts per hour with limited worker assistance. “The advantage on the industrial level is mass production,” Mr. Latshaw said. “Industrial production is a continuous dough band process with full automation of lamination, sheeting, cutting and forming.”
Additionally, fully automated lines have the bonus of being able to connect with a downstream proofer and fryer, which means even faster production and reduced labor.
Overall, automation will help your business. The most significant factor in deciding which machine best suits you is scale—how big your business is and how much you need to produce. Full automation is ideal for industrial-sized businesses where high product volumes are made every day. Semi-automated is for small-to-medium businesses like a bakery, which creates many products.
Need help determining your role? Contact us today, and we will happily answer any questions you may have!
Sales
Peter Spinelli
President & General Manager RONDO North America