In order to maintain the highest quality of your products, your cooling, freezing and conditioning processes should be well-tailored to your situation. However, choosing the right solutions for your business can be challenging. There are so many factors to take into account, so how can you ensure the optimal choice for chilling, freezing, proofing or storing?
In this blog, we provide you with some helpful considerations when it comes to making the right decisions for your company.
1. Problem definition
Choosing the right bakery machines and equipment starts with a solid problem definition. Defining the production process in detail and determining current or potential issues and improvements in advance will make it easier to decide what the requirements are for success.
Detailed information is crucial; does the bakery deal with dehydrated products, does the product show cracks in the dough, are there staffing issues, is there a need to up the production? What type of plates are used, what type of carts, how many kilos on one cart, how many ovens are operational? By knowing what the current situation is, our experts can advise on optimal improvements.
Solutions might be unexpected. For example, issues around night work and staffing can often be solved with solutions like slow proofing or blast freezing. With alternative solutions, potentially part of your production can take place at a more convenient time. This way, the quality of the product can be maintained (and incidentally even improved) by applying the right equipment, resulting in lower personnel costs, easier recruitment of staff and more satisfied staff with a better work-life balance by eliminating night time hours.
2. Future-proof: sustainable production
Even though business might be optimal today, it is wise to take into consideration future growth or expansion when considering new equipment. Long term planning will be more profitable and replacing your solutions in 1 or 2 years’ time is simply not sustainable. By consciously planning for overcapacity, your solutions will last longer. Additionally, equipment will not have to operate at maximum capacity, resulting in lower energy costs. This is smart in more ways than one!
By calculating energy usage in a detailed and precise manner, KOMA can advise on efficient usage by preparing a case study for customers. By producing at alternative times or optimising the production process, energy use can often be optimised.
3. Smart service solutions
Service might often be considered a standard option, but nothing is further from the truth. The right service solution can make all the difference in the world. After all, smooth operations are essential for a healthy business. Thinking ahead about the type of service that would fit your business best when purchasing solutions for your production line is essential.
Standard service contracts include a yearly service, and this type of contract will fit you perfectly if you run a small business. However, when you run an industrial bakery with multiple production lines and more complicated processes, a remote controlling system might help you to establish a minimal amount of hiccups in your production.
Through an internet connection, the system can be monitored 24/7 and adjustments can be made proactively remotely to prevent more serious issues in the system. This is not only beneficial for your output, but your systems will last longer under these circumstances as well.
4. Advice by and for experts
Buying new machines and equipment can be a stressful process, as it involves large investments. As an expert in your field, you know best what you need and how you reach perfection in your product range. However, external experts can offer expertise on the machines and solutions that can improve efficiency, costs and even quality. KOMA experts can advise on a range of topics, from optimal freezing times to interior flows to more efficient ways of working, while always safeguarding the quality of your products. Our experts have extensive knowledge of ingredients, process flows and equipment, and they can offer personal advice based on your precise requirements and ambitions.
Together, we can make sure you make the right choice when it comes to automation and equipment. At KOMA, we understand what it takes to deliver consistent quality levels. We hope we can support you in choosing the best solution for your business.
Would you like to know how KOMA can help you to improve your business? Please contact us here for a 1-on-1 consultation with one of our cooling and freezing experts.
