Westfalia Technologies, Inc. (Westfalia), a provider of logistics solutions for manufacturers and distributors since 1992,  recommends manufacturers of fresh and frozen bakery products implement automation technologies in order to manage the short shelf life of perishable items, control labor costs, minimize product damage, increase inventory accuracy and maximize warehouse capacity.

According to Global Industry Analysts, Inc., the global market for bakery products is projected to exceed $570 billion by 2024. In order to meet consumer demand and manage varying expiration dates manufacturers need real-time inventory data to gain insights on how to plan future production. In addition, manufactures are often burdened with SKU complexity due to the demands for various product variations and high costs of expanding the current warehouse footprint to accommodate an expanding inventory. 

In a new white paper titled, “Automation and the Modern Bakery,” Westfalia discusses how implementing automation can help manufacturers of baked goods overcome these challenges and more, including: 

• Improving space utilization and decreasing costs
• Reducing labor risks
• Increasing ability to meet consumer demand
• Enhancing just-in-time order fulfillment

“In order to meet the escalation of consumer demand, manufacturers must increase warehouse operational efficiency. By introducing automation solutions into the warehouse, including high-density automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and warehouse execution systems (WES), manufacturers of fresh and frozen bakery goods can not only meet consumer demand, but also set themselves up for future growth,” said Dan Labell, president, Westfalia Technologies.

To learn more about the benefits of automating bakeries, download the Westfalia white paper, “Automation and the Modern Bakery.”