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Articles by Mike Edgett
The Circular Economy: How Digitization Dents Industry’s Climate Impact
As we become more prosperous and more conscious of our impact on the planet, the UN has declared that responsible energy consumption needs to become a default approach. To play their role, businesses have a responsibility to support a circular economy model, where waste is minimized and the constant use and recycling of resources is encouraged.
Importance of Technology as Manufacturers Prepare for ‘Buy American’ Executive Order
Earlier this year, President Joe Biden issued the “Buy American” executive order, pledging to strengthen domestic purchasing power and revitalize the manufacturing industry. After the difficulty in meeting the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) highlighted U.S. dependence on foreign nations, President Biden’s plan strongly focuses on strengthening domestic supply chains through federal contracts.
Preparing for Biden’s 'Buy American' Order? ERP Software Can Help
Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed a new "Buy American" executive order to support manufacturers, businesses and workers by ensuring federal government taxpayer dollars are spent on American-made goods with American-made component parts. As a result, manufacturers and supply-chain executives are preparing for an influx of new government contracts. Stimulating and expanding U.S. manufacturing has been a goal for decades.
COVID-19 and the Holiday Rush: Planning for the Biggest Sales Period of the Year
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has altered our world dramatically. And, when thinking about aspects of everyday life that look markedly different than 2019, consumer behavior is top of mind for retailers and distributors. There are a lot of predictions from industry experts about what to expect this holiday shopping season—from longer fulfillment processes to increasing package delivery rates—but there is still plenty of uncertainty, especially when it comes to the supply chain.
COVID-19 and the Holiday Rush: Planning for the Biggest Sales Period of the Year
chika_milan - Adobe Stock The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has altered our world dramatically. And, when thinking about aspects of everyday life that look markedly different than 2019, consumer behavior is top of mind for retailers and distributors.
Report: Sustainability Now Paramount to Manufacturers
Sage/IDC report finds manufacturers are elevating visibility into sustainable processes to align with evolving consumer preferences. By: Mike Edgett, Product Marketing Director, Sage Sustainability has become increasingly important for manufacturers – not only to optimize production and revenue, but to comply with constantly changing regulations and address shifting consumer preferences.
Challenging the Status Quo: The Future of Food Manufacturing and Consumer Preferences Following COVID-19
By Mike Edgett, U.S. Product Marketing Director, Medium Segment, Sage Without question, this year, manufacturers have experienced disruption. To show how quickly things have evolved, in a manufacturer survey released in March conducted by the National Association of Manufacturers, 53.1% of manufacturers anticipated a change in operations due to COVID-19, with 35.5% saying that they are facing supply chain disruption. It would be safe to assume that today those numbers would be even higher.
Emerging Tech in Manufacturing
While emerging technology has been a focus for manufacturers, simply investing in it isn’t enough – it requires full-blown integration. By Mike Edgett, Director, Sage An explosion in data use and analytics, new computing capabilities, and advances in emerging tech are continually changing manufacturing practices.
Natural partners
Spelling out the future of food, with IIoT and AI. By Mike Edgett From timings to temperatures and miles travelled, food production creates masses of data. Most businesses waste this information, but as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) makes its presence felt, those who do discard this data, face extinction. The numbers behind IIoT are staggering. The total installed base of IIoT connected devices is projected to reach more than 75 billion worldwide by 2025.
8 Keys To Deftly Deploy Digital Tools
Digitalization/IIoT Consider these points to properly guide efforts By Mike Edgett, Infor Nov 12, 2019 Most industry pundits seem to agree that, despite continuing volatility in the global economic environment, the chemical manufacturing outlook is showing good signs of growth.
Rethinking packaging? Software can help manage the transition to more sustainable options
Mike Edgett is director of industry and solution strategy for food and beverage at Infor. Consumer awareness about the environmental hazards of plastic, especially in food and beverage packaging, has reached a tipping point. Although plastic provides a relatively inexpensive container that can protect taste and prolong the freshness of food, the shocking amount of unrecycled plastic bottles floating in oceans and washing onto beaches is driving public outcry and demand for changes.
Modern Technology Helps Turn Quality Into a Differentiator in the F&B Industry
For decades, taste and convenience were the primary driving factors behind consumer purchases in the food and beverage industry. Today, choices and considerations are becoming more complex as consumers have an increased focus on health, influenced by cleaner labels, perceived benefits or risks (e.g., GMOs), and sustainability. Therefore, standing out and achieving market dominance can be difficult in this continually shifting landscape.
Preparing for the Future of Traceability
The fear and frustration of reoccurring food safety issues has many retailers and manufacturers searching for a better means to quickly identify and isolate the cause of these outbreaks. Grocery retailers are especially focused on these issues, as they are typically the direct connection to the consumer. But, dependence on a multitude of suppliers—with varying levels of supply chain sophistication—adds to the complexity.
Millennials’ Food Fascination Drives Disruptive Innovation for F&B Manufacturers
Market Trends to Watch These are the key disruption trends to watch for in 2019: Localized Offerings. Millennials value locally produced foods, especially fresh packaged salads. Locally grown produce and packaged salads are fresher because they do not have to travel far to get into stores. To meet this demand, more regional greenhouses will be needed so foods can be grown across the country, year-round.
Consumers Increase Pressure on Food and Beverage Manufacturers to Speed Product Innovations
Many consumers are passionate about the quality of their food, the health implications, and the environmental footprint made by food manufacturers. Today, highly aware consumers represent an important target audience. To meet their shifting expectations, food and beverage manufacturers will need to speed product introductions and develop new offerings which reflect the changing views on what is fresh, healthy, and mindful — and technology can help.
Looking Forward to 2019: Leveraging Technology to Align With Your Business Strategies
“Now is the time to get your ducks in a row.” You have likely heard that old saying before, possibly as a warning to stop procrastinating and start expediting preparation for an important event. This saying also aptly fits year-end planning for food and beverage companies. This is the year to fully commit to modernizing operations and upgrading technology to provide a competitive advantage. It is time to put plans in place and have your strategy mapped and neatly aligned.
The Food and Beverage Industry is Poised for Further Growth, and Technology Makes it Happen
For everything there is a season, as those in the Food and Beverage Industry are keenly aware. In parts of the world, harvest season is here; for others, it is spring planting. And, as 2018 coasts to year-end, it is also the season for summarizing achievements and setting new goals. Eager to capitalize on the growth momentum, F&B companies will soon be planning 2019 budgets and prioritizing the major initiatives for the coming year.
Food and Beverage Manufacturers Turn to M&A to Jump-Start Entrance Into New Markets
Manufacturers in the food and beverage industry are increasingly turning to mergers and acquisitions as a way to keep pace with consumer demands. In an era where speed is critical, many companies seem to find it to be faster and easier to form a partnership or make an acquisition, rather than invest in R&D or develop their own new products and brands from the ground-up.
Beyond Back to Basics: Food Quality and Regulation Compliance Provide a Foundation for Growth
It is that time of year, when students rush back into the classroom, meet their new teachers and discover what new adventures await — from learning long division, to dissecting frogs or studying the lifecycle of plants. While the course topics change, and new technologies enter the classroom, the fundamentals remain the same. The same is true in the food and beverage industry. For manufacturers overwhelmed with changing demands, a refresher course may be helpful.
Artificial Intelligence is Redefining Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Facial Recognition. While many people associate this application with Facebook and its capability to “recognize” people in images and tag them, it also has some real potential value in manufacturing. AI applications for recognizing images can be used for security clearance to help companies better control access to their facilities.
Where To Find The ROI Of IoT In The Food & Beverage Industry
The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most hyped technology trends in decades. It is also one of the least understood. Some enterprises have turned to IoT technology as the cure-all treatment for every manufacturing ailment, from volatility in the supply chain to customer demands for new product offerings. Overly inflated expectations cause frustrations.
Dispelling 5 Myths About Digital Transformation In The F&B Industry
Digital technology is a hot topic in the IT world today. The media is buzzing with tales of total transformation occurring in a wide range of industries, from ride sharing in the automotive industry to the influence of Amazon in the retail industry. With this abundance of hype, misconceptions have managed to creep into the dialogue. For food processors, the digital myths can sidetrack companies from evaluating and launching much-needed modernization strategies.
Why 2018 Is The Year To Transform Your IT Systems
Food processors are continually evaluating where they should invest their resources to best grow their revenue and profitability. The debate goes on as to whether they should invest in modern equipment, expand marketing efforts, develop new channels to market or ramp up their R&D and new product development. Often, though, companies are not making the most of the investments they have already made.
‘Tis The Season For Greater Seasonality In Your Product Line
Every season has a flavor. From pumpkin spiced coffee in September, candy cane flavored milkshakes in December and shamrock green beer in March, today’s consumers remain enthralled with seasonal offerings. Restaurants, retailers and niche food suppliers have turned these timely treats into a dynamic sales opportunity, generating added revenue and building loyal followings for seasonal or holiday-themed products.
How Company Culture Contributes To The Success Of Modernizing Operations
Modernizing your processing plants is no longer optional. In order to remain competitive, relevant to the market and responsive to customer expectations, food processing companies must modernize operations. From product lifecycle management software to interconnected sensors that control and monitor processing and storage temperature, updated technology is only one portion of the equation.
Changing The Organizational Structure And Evolving C-Level Roles To Keep Pace With Modernization
The food and beverage industry is constantly changing, from where artichokes are grown to the way ingredients in zucchini bread are listed on the package label. Few processes remain untouched by the impact of technology, innovation and new consumer-centric business models. Whether a brewery introduces more seasonal varieties of beer or a cereal producer eliminates artificial colors, consumer-driven change often dominates discussions in the C-suite.
What Digital Transformation Means For The Food & Beverage Industry
System-wide modernization has been a long-term priority for many food and beverage (F&B) companies, but is often stalled waiting for funds. Several investment options compete for those hard-earned dollars. The continual need to develop new products to meet consumer demand often make research and development (R&D) spending the priority. What does that leave for software investment?
The Power of IoT for Food & Beverage Companies
The power of IoT to help in improving profitability goes beyond production planning and scheduling. It can include a maintenance technician who’s checking the inventory of a spare part while repairing a critical piece of equipment, to a warehouse manager using a tablet to confirm the location of forklifts and personnel. This continued adoption of mobility is changing some of the core requirements of IoT.
The Catalyst For Process Manufacturing Innovation
Frankly the complexities of most process manufacturers continue to grow and the IT solutions that were selected just a few years ago, whether they be ERP, Supply Chain, Quality Management or others, are often not up to the tasks required to be as agile. So companies find themselves forced to either plod along with additional manual activities or trying to find time to upgrade their existing solutions.
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