Types of Automation in dairy industry and their benefits

Automation is the use of control systems, such as sensors and feedback mechanisms, by industrial manufacturing processes to carry out operations automatically. Some activities can be fully automated. Automation in dairy industry  has allowed businesses to focus on what differentiates them from their competitors, which often means focusing on more sophisticated or higher value-added aspects of their products and services.

In the dairy industry automation is used extensively in milk haulage for bulk milk transport management. The milk haulage automation involves the implementation of various technologies in milk collection, milk transport, milk processing, and milk product delivery.

Milk collection automation

Milk collection automation is a technology that records and sorts actual milk production of dairy cows. This technology mainly comprises of three functional stages – recording the number of milking cows through electronic identification (EID) tag; recording milk production; and, sorting the recorded data into different categories such as production per cow per day or production per cow per hour.

Milk transport automation

Milk transport automation  is a technology that records and transports the actual milk production of dairy cows. The recorded information pertains to both lactation and dry period. This technology mainly comprises of two functional stages – recording the number of milking cows through electronic identification (EID) tag; and, transporting the recorded data on a real-time basis.

Milk processing automation

Milk processing automation involves recording actual milk production, sorting the recorded data into different categories such as production per cow per day or production per cow per hour, and monitoring actual milk processors. The main function of this technology is to process raw materials into ready-to-market products such as cheese, butter, cream, or skimmed milk powder (SMP). This technology is usually integrated with other technologies such as milk collection and milk transport automation.

Milk product delivery automation

Milk product delivery automation involves the recording and monitoring of actual milk product deliveries. The main function of this technology is to deliver ready-to-market products such as cheese, butter, cream, or skimmed milk powder (SMP) to a customer in a specific period. This technology can be integrated with other technologies such as milk collection, milk transport automation.

In the dairy industry automation is used extensively in milking management for automatic milking system (AMS). AMS is a technological solution for the automatic control and management of milking practices which can be found in most modern dairy farming facilities. The AMS uses monitoring and feedback of actual milk production and processing to initiate, control, and adjust the milking process continuously. This technology is also used in other aspects such as feed intake management, equipment cleaning and sanitization, dairy manure compaction and storage, automatic weighing system (AWS), etc.

Certain types of innovations are inherently more challenging to adopt than others. In order to ensure that innovations in general are adopted successfully by a wider segment of businesses and consumers, it is important for decision makers across different departments to understand the relative costs associated with the adoption or non-adoption for specific technologies or items. This information may help them choose which option to adopt based on their needs.

Advantages

Here is a list of advantages of automatic solution provider for dairy 

Better safety management

No one would like to get injured while on the job. That is why modern technologies such as automation help save lives in many ways. Automation helps make sure that all the machines are working properly and that there are no accidents from a machine failing or anything along those lines. In the dairy industry, it can be very risky for farmworkers to clean the dairy and make sure everything is okay. Because of the high risk of injury and even death, automation helps make everything safer for both workers and animals alike.

Easy and accurate food processing

Automation is great when it comes to food processing. This is because automation makes food manufacturing be done at a much faster rate, as well as making sure that everything is processed accurately. It lets the production work be done without any hassle or stress. Things are safer, faster, and more accurate when using these new technologies such as automation in the dairy industry.

Reduce manpower costs

Automation not only makes food processing safer but also reduces manpower costs overall. Making food processing safer on all fronts, makes fewer injuries, which reduces costs in the long run. The fewer injured workers there are, the less it costs to pay them. This is why automation is such a powerful technology and is such a great tool for the dairy industry.

Eliminate the risk of fires

Automation can also eliminate the risk of serious fires occurring in the dairy industry. If a fire were to occur because of faulty equipment or any other reason, automation could get rid of that issue very quickly. The dairy industry is already at high risk for fires, so having it be safer for employees and other reasons is a very big benefit.

Effective food processing without any hassle

It is important to know that effective food processing does not always require automation. However, Automation solution provider for dairy food processing can make the process even safer than it already is on its own. The dairy industry has had a long history of problems with fires caused by improper food processing practices. These practices are no longer necessary when using automation, which is one of the main benefits listed in this article.

Lower sanitation costs

Sanitation costs can really add up when it comes to the dairy industry. In these environments, it is important to make sure everything is sanitary as possible and without any mistakes. Automation makes this easier and more effective because it eliminates any potential problems that could come with sanitation issues such as infections or anything like that. For sanitation problems to occur, they often do in these settings. With automation, this is avoided so everything is sanitary and safe.

Conclusion

Improved food preservation, Food preservation is an important aspect of the dairy industry as well, because food can spoil very easily and quickly in these settings. Automation can help with food preservation by not only being more efficient overall but being more reliable than manual techniques as well. This means that the food will last longer and be safer at all times.