CRB survey finds in next three years, majority of F+B manufacturers will reach highest level of digital maturity

Available today, CRB's newest Horizons report captures how automation, digital maturity shapes F+B as it wrestles with dynamic forces shaping labor and consumer expectations

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CRB, a leading provider of engineering, architecture, construction and consulting solutions to the food and beverage industry, today releases its latest Horizons report -- focused on digital manufacturing and the rise of automation, control systems and data analytics as producers seek new efficiencies in a dynamic, highly competitive environment.

Available today as a free download, the Horizons: Digital Age of Food Manufacturing report is based on a rigorous survey of more than 300 manufacturing leaders across the industry. The resulting responses and analysis from CRB's F+B subject matter experts go deep on digital manufacturing and its implications for food and beverage suppliers. The report captures perspectives from across the manufacturing chain – including operations, plant engineering, procurement, and executive leadership in the C-suite – and delivers perhaps the most holistic snapshot of how F+B makers are achieving digital maturity to bring their products to market safely, profitably and at the quality consumers demand.

The report finds 37 percent of respondents identified themselves as early adopters of Industry 4.0, boasting technology integrations and predictive, real-time analytics in their plants. More than a fifth of respondents, however, said they are grappling with digital islands and disconnected pockets of automation -- underscoring concerns over the cost and complexity of keeping pace with rapid digital transformation.

In the report's opening passages, Jason Robertson, CRB's Vice President of Food & Beverage, empathetically frames the industry's steady but sometimes halting push toward digitalization, noting that conferences and workshops are filled with talk of "Industry 4.0" even if many would struggle to explain its concepts and key advantages.

"The term has become a catch-all for shiny new technologies, making it seem both inevitable and impractical – a difficult combination for any manufacturer trying to figure out exactly how to move their business forward," Robertson writes. "We offer this report as a searchlight … by exploring Industry 4.0 not as a catch-all term but as a concrete objective enabled by realistic, incremental steps."

Additional key findings and actionable insights found within the report's 85 pages:

• More than 7 in 10 respondents are targeting the highest levels of digital maturity within the next three years, with roughly the same number ranking productivity as the most attractive operational advantage of automation and digital manufacturing.
• Amid mounting pressure from regulators, retailers and customers, food and beverage manufacturers are striving to demonstrate progress on sustainability. The report shows 97 percent of survey respondents are partnering with outside experts to bridge knowledge gaps on environmental, social and governance issues (ESG), while roughly three of every four respondents reporting the use of tax credits to fund ESG initiatives.
• As manufacturers account for regulatory changes, unpredictable labor markets, and fluctuating supply and demand, better than half of Horizons respondents are prioritizing instrumentation, automation, and integration. Additionally, about three-fourths reported utilizing or planning for digital technologies to enable enterprise-level data sharing, bridging the gap between boardroom decisions and real-time operations on the plant floor.
• Despite rising interest rates and inflation, one out of every two survey respondents plan to invest in automation-related projects in the next three years. By prioritizing better instrumentation and automation, manufacturers can extract accurate, real-time data from existing assets and unlock more capacity without significant capital investments.

About CRB:
CRB is a leading provider of sustainable engineering, architecture, construction and consulting solutions to the global life sciences and food and beverage industries. Our more than 1,300 employees provide world-class solutions that drive success and positive change for our clients, our people and our communities. CRB is a privately held company with a rich history of serving clients throughout the world, consistently striving for the highest standard of technical knowledge, creativity and execution.

MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION:
Chris Clark, CRB Communications
[email protected]

SOURCE CRB Group Inc.