Enhance your knowledge, reduce your downtime.

The automation in modern food and beverage production plants has helped many improve productivity, but there can be challenges. Components become obsolete, things break down, software becomes outdated. How can you keep track of it all? An automation assessment from Tetra Pak could be the answer.

What is an automation assessment?

Automation assessments give customers an overview of their automation equipment, highlighting the parts and components that are set to become obsolete, or even those that are obsolete already, and covering what can be done to prevent or rectify this. We can also provide information on which upgrades can potentially offer performance benefits, helping customers get even more out of their existing technology.

Assessments look different for every customer, and we offer three different levels of scope:

Level 1:

A basic general assessment. In most cases, it can be done remotely, where we go through control systems that are obsolete, and present the options for upgrades.

Level 2:

A detailed lifecycle status obsolescence assessment. Here we can take backups, run them through our software tool, and that will break down every single automation component and assign a lifecycle status to that component. This includes a detailed report for the customer, giving a great overview of the whole plant.

Level 3:

This takes the assessment one step further. Everything from level 2 is included, but we also propose an obsolescence management plan. Here the goal is to break down when and where the upgrades will be installed to minimize downtime. This can be high level or detailed, depending on the customer’s needs.

The assessment process

While each assessment is based on customer needs, we take a consistent approach in our on-site visits:

1.

We gather information before the visit from our own systems, combined with our knowledge of expected obsolescence across the relevant components.

2.

We arrive on-site and meet with the customer representative, who will be there to take us through the site.

3.

We inspect the relevant control panels and components associated with automation. This involves opening up panels for a thorough visual inspection.

4.

We compile a list of the components and various model numbers and check against our own information regarding parts that will potentially become obsolete.

5.

We assign components a green, yellow or red indicator. Green means it’s active with no action required. Yellow means end of life has been announced, so spares need to be checked. Red means a discontinued part, which requires action. This is to make it clear and easy for the customer.

6.

We can also check the inventory of spare parts and take this into consideration when it comes to next steps.

7.

We then create a report for the customer, and provide recommendations based on their specific needs.

Follow-up and implementation

The assessment is just the beginning. We provide a report , including urgent action to be taken as well as recommended upgrades.

Depending on the customer, we can also provide an in-depth plan to map out when each upgrade should be installed. This plan will be based on keeping downtime to a minimum, and finding the optimal installation time, whether that’s during scheduled maintenance downtime or a stoppage for cleaning.

Once the technical options and risks are evaluated, it is also important to consider any financial constraints. Tetra Pak can offer a range of solutions, and these can help determine both the best pathway forward and the timeline for implementation.

More than avoiding obsolescence

Included in the report will be the upgrades that can potentially improve performance. We prioritise the one-for-one replacements that will help customers avoid obsolescence while maintaining the same look and feel for automation equipment, but we also want to offer the opportunity to modernise and potentially improve software or hardware efficiency.

Why now?

A proactive approach when it comes to obsolescence is an investment worth making. Some customers are unaware of equipment being phased out, and this can lead to problems and downtime in the event of a failure. If something breaks, and it’s already obsolete, the lead times for replacements can be lengthy, which means significant downtime. Taking early action helps to secure productivity while avoiding potential issues.

Get more out of your equipment, for longer

Obsolescence affects every plant, as technology is constantly evolving with older models being phased out and replaced. An assessment is a great way for any food and beverage producer to proactively avoid obsolescence while potentially improving performance. This means getting more out of any investment in automation, and securing efficiency for the long term.

Get ahead of your obsolescence needs

As obsolescence becomes a more pressing issue in the food and beverage industry, many producers have questions about how and when to best handle upgrades.

Get ahead of your obsolescence needs⁠