Meeting changing customer demand in a manufacturing plant can be a challenge, but it is essential to stay competitive in today’s market. Here are some steps to help you meet changing customer demand:
Monitor customer trends
Keep an eye on your customers’ changing needs and preferences. Use market research and customer feedback to identify trends and new demand. In 2023 we expect the following trends in the food and manufacturing industry:
- There will likely be a stronger focus on operational efficiency, especially given that an average UK supermarket stocks only one day’s worth of fresh produce (batch-cooking is on the rise in 2023.)
- Automation and robotics are almost certainly on the way in, with a move away from the labour-intensive retail theatre, over time.
- Online food shopping will continue to grow.
- Supermarkets will invest heavily in expanding their fulfilment capacity for online sales.
- New entrants into online food shopping, attracted by the enhanced growth opportunities.
- Continual growth in the fast-food deliverable sector
By staying on top of how people are buying food, you are better able to navigate the market and adjust your operations to meet new needs. This will enable you to maintain revenue, despite external factors.
We list the most popular predicted food trends of 2023 below.
- Sustainability
- No best before?
- Local Produce
- Power of the ‘own label’
Sustainability
Making ethical and sustainable purchases has become a priority for consumers. In fact, research by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) claimed that there was a 71 percent rise in popularity of searches for sustainable goods over the five years leading up to 2022.
To win over customers, you must show yourself as a partner to the environment. This means incorporating sustainable processes.
Examples of eco-friendly measures you might take include:
- Sourcing raw materials from ethical origins
- Using local resources to minimise transportation
- Using renewable energy sources
- Adequately handling waste – and recycling where possible
- Lowering energy use (such as using machines with reduced power consumption)
- Effective stock management to prevent waste
- Having efficient processes that minimise giveaway while only using the resources required
If the environment isn’t already a priority in your plant, it’s crucial to act now before you start alienating customers as the trend looks set to continue. It will also ease the growing pressure from industry leaders and government bodies for businesses to commit to net-zero objectives.
No best before?
Numerous supermarkets ditched best-before dates in 2022 in order to allow consumers to make their own decisions and cut down on food waste. While it’s unlikely that best-before dates will disappear entirely, they’re certainly on the way out. With more people on the planet to feed than ever, fruit and vegetables seemed to be the first food types subject to label alterations, with the likes of Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and M&S making changes to hundreds of fruit and vegetable product labels in 2022.
That being said, it’s crucial that the hygiene at the plant is as strict as ever with people taking bigger risks on fresh produce. Product inspection is key for minimising hazards. An effective product inspection system should review your products for issues, including contamination from various sources and broken seals. X-ray is typically the most comprehensive option, though check weighing and metal detection are alternatives that may suit your requirements.
Keeping things local
Another emerging trend post-pandemic was increased concern about the quality of food in the UK. In line with people’s focus on ethical and sustainable purchases and a drive to protect personal health through nutrition, people want high-quality food using good ingredients.
The onus is on manufacturers to source better materials while being transparent about their origins. Working with reliable partners who provide high-quality supplies – taken from ethical or even organic locations – will ensure a quality outcome. In 2023, it is predicted that more people will be looking to buy farm-bred produce rather than plant-based product with the onus being on welfare and sustainability linked to locality.
The own-label power
There has to be some degree of flexibility with all businesses and if you are flexible when it comes to branding then you are already on the right tracks. We’ve said it already, that food inflation is on the rise and people have been led to believe that own-labels are a cheaper alternative to brands. Research from Kantar shows that own-label range sales are at a record high, with sales reportedly rising by 7.3 percent in 2022, taking up 51.6 percent of the market compared with branded products.
When working with ‘speciality’ products, you may need to meet niche requirements to meet specifications, such as working with particular ingredients. Ensure you know the requirements and create processes that consistently fulfil them.
Be flexible
A flexible manufacturing process is crucial in meeting changing customer demand. Use agile methods and technology to quickly adapt to changes in production processes, product design, and delivery schedules.
Invest in technology
Investing in new technology will help you streamline your production processes and increase efficiency. Consider automation, robotics, and other advanced manufacturing technologies to help you meet changing customer demand.
Build strong partnerships
Building strong relationships with suppliers and partners will help you access new materials and technologies, and respond quickly to changes in demand. At Yamato, we have over 3,000 skus of spare parts in stock and we are renowned for our high-quality service, with next day delivery to maintain the optimal performance of your machine. Each part we sell also comes with a 12-month guarantee, and we’re always on hand to help should you need our expertise.
Train your workforce
Invest in training your workforce to help them develop the skills necessary to adapt to changing customer demand. This includes training in new technologies, processes, and product design. We have all been beginners at some stage, take driving for example. How long was it until your muscle memory took over and you didn’t even have to think about getting from A to B? It was definitely a few hours of lessons to get you to that point wasn’t it. If there are employees working along your production line and they’re not as effective as you’d like them to be, perhaps it’s time to invest some time into training. If your workforce is confident in their daily tasks and equipment, it will have a huge positive impact on the efficiency of your production line.
Continuously improve
Continuously review and improve your processes to ensure that you are always meeting changing customer demand. Use data analytics, customer feedback, and other metrics to identify areas for improvement and make changes as necessary. To accurately record improvements, it’s key that you measure the performance of your plant. There are a number of ways you can do this and you will have to find a method best suited to your situation. A common calculation that people use is:
Production Efficiency = (Actual Output Rate / Standard Output Rate) x100
Say for instance you need to package 100 bags of salad and the standard rate of completion is 100 units per 4 hours, but it took 6 hours to complete the request.
Actual Output Rate = 100 units / 6 hours = 16.6
Standard Output Rate = 100 units / 4 hours = 25
Production Efficiency = (16.6 / 25 ) x 100 = 66.4%
In an ideal world, this figure is as close to 100% as possible and ideally is greater than 100%, this would mean your production efficiency is at its peak.
By following these steps, you ensure that your manufacturing plant is well-positioned to meet changing customer demand. By being proactive and innovative, you can stay ahead of the competition and continue to meet the evolving needs of your customers. One of the most significant adaptions plants can make at this time is introducing automation which eases the labour requirement while enabling you to generate high output levels.
If you choose to utilise automation, aim to find reliable machinery compatible with your materials that fulfils the functions you need. This will enable you to deliver quality while hitting your output targets.
Get in touch today to speak to one of our expert team members about your requirements.
