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What CPGs Can Achieve with Robots and Cobots, Plus Common Hurdles

CPGs find compelling benefits like labor reduction and increased productivity when adding robots to the production line, but others have reason to hesitate

PMMI Report: CPGs Find Key Benefits with Robots

Nine out of ten CPGs using robotics are turning to the technology to alleviate struggles finding and retaining labor for mundane and repetitive tasks throughout the production floor, according to PMMI Business Intelligence's 2022 report "Robots and Cobots – An Automated Future."

Participating food manufacturers in particular are looking at robots and/or cobots to reduce their reliance on labor and achieve safer food handling. One packaging engineer manager at a large food company says in the report about a fifth of the company’s plants across North America use robots, “mainly for case packing and palletizing, and we’re continuing to invest where it makes sense to replace labor.”

The majority (78%) of CPGs using robots are also aiming for increased speed and productivity. “We envision cobots will have applications in secondary packaging to sort products to achieve faster throughput,” an engineering manager at a leading beverage company says in the report.Key Benefits CPGs Find with Robots

68% of CPGs use robots to achieve repeatable quality and consistent product handling. A manufacturing tech engineer for a large household products company says cobots can specifically help with “moving products from point A to point B and for applying the label to various sizes and configurations.” In a similar vein, 33% use robots to minimize waste and human error in production.

About half (51%) of CPGs using robots cited improving operator safety as a key draw, replacing tasks that might cause injuries such as packing and palletizing.

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