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AI and machine learning significantly impact the food and beverage industry, especially the manufacturing process, as it can reduce waste and improve safety standards.
FREMONT, CA: In general, companies think of customer service and takeaway gig-economy services when they think of the food business. Modern technology, particularly artificial intelligence and machine learning is one of the last things to mind while discussing the food sector. These technologies have a significant impact on the food and beverage business.
Revolutionizing the Manufacturing Process
Machine learning and AI impact every step of the process, whether it's in the food or beverage industries. Hygiene is a vast and crucial aspect of the food business process, especially in preventing cross-contamination and maintaining high standards during a pandemic.
Earlier, these duties used to be laborious, time and resource-intensive, and highly expensive if a mistake or oversight was made. In the manufacturing facilities, it is necessary to dismantle and then reassemble the complex machines to be thoroughly cleaned and pump a high volume of substances.
Machines can use robust ultrasonic sensors and fluorescence optical imaging to monitor food remains on machinery and microbial debris by utilizing a technology known as SOCIP, or Self-Cleaning-in-Place. It means machines only have to be cleaned when necessary and only in the parts that require cleaning.
Less Waste and More Transparency
The waste component of the food and beverage sector is a widely debated and criticized topic. AI can be used to follow each stage of the manufacturing and supply chain process worldwide, including tracking prices, maintaining inventory stock levels, and even monitoring countries of origin.
Existing solutions, like Symphony Retail AI, employ this data to track transport expenses correctly, the pricing mentioned, and inventory levels to forecast how much food is necessary and where waste is generated.
Improving Food Safety Standards
Food safety standards are always crucial to follow no matter where the restaurant is globally, and restrictions seem to be getting tighter all the time.
Food can be managed and processed by robots that use AI and machine learning, effectively removing the possibility of contamination through contact. As robots and machinery cannot spread diseases in the same manner that humans do, the risk of becoming a problem is reduced.
Robotic solutions are being employed in place of humans in food testing facilities for more reliable results.