PIM Brands Develops Internal AI-Enabled Manufacturing Platform
Snacks and confections company PIM Brands, which manufactures Welch's Fruit Snacks and Sun-Maid Chocolate Raisins, among others, has been undergoing a multiyear, digitally enabled manufacturing transformation.
The company sought a solution to strengthen its manufacturing operations and accelerate innovation, deciding to develop an internal proprietary AI platform that could sit at the center of this strategy to drive efficiency, support business growth, and scale for domestic and international expansion.
Instead of investing in an off-the-shelf solution, PIM Brands chose to create an in-house team of 10 AI and automation specialists that could develop a customized platform for its manufacturing needs.
This has included implementing predictive analytics and automation to enable PIM Brands to anticipate production issues before they arise. The platform helps employees easily identify problem areas on the production floor so they can optimize performance in real time.
Also: General Mills to overhaul supply chain "built for a different time"
As of July, this has helped increase production by 20% and improve operational efficiency by 10%, resulting in millions of dollars in savings supported by increased capacity and operational flexibility, according to PIM Brands.
One such example is the expansion of Welch's fruit snacks in Mexico, which has gained momentum with consumers through localized marketing efforts, expanded retail distribution, consumer education and strong operational support.
As a result, PIM Brands plans to follow a similar strategy to grow its Sour Jacks business.
"Many manufacturers are using AI to understand what has already happened. Instead, PIM built our platform to help us understand what's likely to happen next," Cal Swedberg, VP of manufacturing, said in a statement. "By identifying potential issues before they impact production, we're able to improve reliability, increase efficiency and create capacity for growth."
Swedberg said that by building the platform internally, it gives PIM Brands the flexibility to solve challenges unique to its operations and scale the technology alongside the business' growth.
