The Del Monte facilities in Wisconsin and Rochelle manage the production and distribution of various vegetables, including green beans, potatoes, carrots, and beets. To maintain quality and efficiency in this fast-paced environment, the company focuses on the following key operational strategies:
- Aligning Information and Material Flow: It is critical to inspect and match the can code, label, and GTIN to ensure the correct product with the right quality specifications is sent to the customer.
- Implementing Advanced Technology: By integrating Zebra systems, including the Aurora Focus (FS) series barcode readers and the Aurora Vision (Tensor) 360 platform, the company can perform real-time quality corrections.
- Enhancing Traceability and Digital Records: The company aims for end-to-end traceability from field to plate. Integrating these technologies with their manufacturing execution system (MES) enables the creation of digital records, ensures first-pass quality of labels and codes, and prevents mislabeling.
- Data Management and Interface: The solution combines variety code, label information, and case information into a single user interface. This allows the team to store and timestamp images—specifically failed and reference images—indefinitely to track line performance over time.
Looking forward, the company intends to build on its collaborative journey with Zebra by further expanding its AI-powered vision systems, emphasizing that these technologies are imperative for delivering consistent quality to every customer.