Baking&Snack - December 2012 - 88

R&D PERSPECTIVE INDUSTRY INSIGHT

and design out the bottleneck, or problem? One of the obstacles is controlling or channeling the innovation process. What are the priorities? How do they get identified and communicated? Who gets to work on them? Just asking these questions creates limitations to the process. As soon as an organization identifies a group with responsibility for innovation and development, it limits creativity by others. Successful organizations foster the opportunity from all. You never know who your Serop will be. As for trends, expect bakeries and process lines redesigned for energy and waste minimization — lines that are truly 95%-plus efficient. Also, the application of handheld mobile and smart applications technology in operations, maintenance and QA func-

tions will provide real-time reference, instruction and data collection functions. For maintenance, the mobile device will assign and track PMs and lubrication requirements based on running times. It will be as common in the toolbox as the hammer. In addition, production and order status will adjust with real-time data acquisition; order processing will be automated with the ability to make adjustments being determined by real time analysis. No longer will adjustments be controlled by cutoff times, resulting in opportunities missed, the time is coming when the salesman can have his mobile unit advise him if the adjustment can be made and then seamlessly it is fitted into the production schedule. Improvements in information technology that simplify all of the

administrative tasks from manufacturing processes to order fulfillment. This, in itself, will reduce processing time and errors and improve overall business efficiency. A parting thought, when we look at the future, it is well to keep in mind that North America represents only 7.8% of the world’s population. Given the global marketplace, the changing demographics of our population and changes in our eating patterns, the innovation required to prepare for the evolving marketplace is a challenge we will face together. What will be the sliced bread of tomorrow? Who knows? However, one only has to look down the bread aisle to see the emergence of thin rolls, bagels and specialty products to know it is changing.

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Baking&Snack - December 2012

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