For beginner entrepreneurs, the food manufacturing industry is one of the easier businesses to enter because there will always be a demand for food products. If you have a good idea in mind, you can find interested investors and begin manufacturing for release in the market.
However, one should have a reliable foundation for manufacturing knowledge to reduce long-term costs. An efficient process for food production will ensure that market demand is met as soon as possible, with as little expenditures incurred.
To help guide any aspiring businessperson, here are a few types of manufacturing processes, along with their possible applications in the food industry.
Repetitive
This manufacturing process is focused on creating a high volume of the same type of product and allows little customization. It has the advantage of having the shortest production time at the cost of variety. It is mostly automated and uses machines, such as single head piston fillers.
It is useful for products that have a straightforward process and non-unique design. It is common for food that is made following a recipe, such as baked goods or processed foods. Since it can produce multiple amounts in a short time, it is best for food that has a long shelf life.
Discrete
Discrete manufacturing has a higher degree of machine customization but will have varied production times. As a more distinct design is used, the time of production will get longer. It has more human personnel involved due to the changing of the machines based on the product.
This is suited for products that will need to be combined into one package, such as differently shaped biscuits or other small snacks. It can lead to longer product production times, as more areas can get bottlenecked and cause delays.
Job Shop
Job shop manufacturing has designated areas for certain steps in product manufacturing, which are manned by different personnel. This means that it can only handle a small number of orders at the time and that production is done in batches instead of single orders.
This method is commonly seen in small-scale candy manufacturing, which has various stations for processes, such as dye mixing, kneading, and chopping the candy. It is also used in making luxury chocolate, especially for those with intricate designs.
3D Printing
This is a process that is recently gaining ground in manufacturing due to its breakthroughs. With the help of a computer, manufacturers can send a set of commands to a 3D printer that will help them produce products of their own design.
One possible use for this in food is the creation of chocolate sculptures, especially those that are geometric in design. However, great care is needed in configuring the machine, and a specific range of temperature is necessary for the proper extrusion and setting of the chocolate.
These are a few of the processes commonly used in manufacturing. Consider using these when figuring out what steps are involved in the creation of your product. In doing so, you can not only fulfill your market demand efficiently but also do so with little cost.