Top experts have analyzed Industry 4.0 on day 2 of the seminars and workshops
The second day of special events at FOODTECH 2019 continued with the scientific workshop “Industry 4.0, Tools & Solutions for Food Production and Packaging”.
Throughout the event, there has been an extensive description of the 4th Industrial Revolution, as well as the changes it brings –internationally and in various fields. Namely, Dr. Sotiris Makris (LMS, Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems & Automation Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics University of Patras) talked about artificial intelligence, which –as he explained– lies at the very heart of the 4th Industrial Revolution. In fact, the goal of this new era is for robots to collect data and make decisions, helping with production; they will interact with both the environment and humans and reprogram their behavior without the need for human intervention.
The second session of the day, on Sunday, October 13, 2019, analyzed the socio-economic impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Mr Nikos Farantouris, Member of the SEVT Scientific Committee and Quality, Safety, Environment Manager at Coca Cola 3E, referred to the position of the Food and Beverage sector in the Greek manufacturing industry, as well as the cataclysmic changes brought about by Industry 4.0 regarding the way industries and their employees work. Finally, he referred to the innovations Coca Cola has implemented in the distribution center of Northern Greece, including Vision Picking, an innovative augmented reality technology solution to manage warehouse needs.
Digitization, specifications and anthropocentric approach
Additionally, Mr Stavros Valianos / Senior Sales Engineer Software at ACMON, talked about factory digitization and the design of logistics management systems in the F&B industry, while Mr Thomas Alexopoulos from the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems & Automation (LMS), underlined the need for training in the new technologies brought about by Industry 4.0, but also in the importance of soft skills, a term that encompasses the ability to perceive our business partners, communicate our thinking correctly and work harmoniously. Finally, he mentioned the different systems implemented across the world, such as Society 5.0 in Japan, which incorporate new technologies and artificial intelligence to the benefit of both society as well as industrial production.
Left: Stavros Valianos (Senior Sales Engineer Software- ACMON) Right: Dr. A. Kanavouras (Food Packaging, AUA, Greece Lab of food engineering & preservation)
Dr. Anastasios E. Politis (University of West Attica and Hellenic Open University, visiting professor at the California Polytechnic State University) discussed the human capital in Industry 4.0, mentioning, inter alia, Lean Manufacturing, a system of holistic anthropocentric approach of excellence, which could be implemented from businesses during the 4th Industrial Revolution. He concluded by stating that Industry 4.0 has come to stay, while highlighting that technology must be created according to human values instead of the other way around.
The workshop continued with success stories from Greek production and packaging businesses, followed by an open discussion.
Finally, Dr. A. Kanavouras (Food Packaging, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Lab of Food Engineering and Preservation) talked about the specifications in each unit as a bridge between materials and machines, stressing that specifications are a business organization’s “immune” system that affects both quality and employee safety.
