MILCOBEL
Milcobel Moorslede is part of Milcobel, the largest Belgian dairy group. The cooperative includes 2,400 dairy farms that co-define Milcobel’s policy. More than 2,000 employees distributed over 7 production sites ensure that 1.8 billion litres of milk are processed to produce high quality milk powers, ingredient-cheeses, butter, cream, ice cream anc consumer cheeses each year. Both under own brand name and under private label on behalf of the customer.A few of the best known brands of the group are Dixmuda and Oud Brugge.
CHALLENGE
- Process Control
Managing the production process based on formulas instead of experience - Efficiency
Cheese treatment planning is essential and a very delicate process - Covering Factory
The entire cheese production process (brine bath) must be automated - Interfacing
Link with the ERP system and machine controls - Traceability
Tracking and tracing also have the highest priority at Milcobel as is the case at all food producers
SOLUTION
Milcobel Moorslede decided to implement Objective MES and WMS in view of the many years of collaborating. The MES/WMS combination influences 3 important flows in the production:
Cheese treatment lines/maturing rooms
- Work planning based on formulas/visualization
- Correct stock at the right place
- Lot tracing
- Replacement of reach trucks by warehouse cranes
Weighing and shipping
- Optimum planning of weighing orders
- Integration of Objective with the product specification system
- The raw material is picked in accordance with the specifications
- Pallet form: identification and tracing
- Scanning pallets when loading cargo
- Interface the weight, lot information and assets with the ERP system
Interrupt detection
- Traceability
- Analysis in accordance with the item/failure reason
- Basis for process optimization
“The delivery level on the requested delivery date has risen significant”
P.V., Supply Chain Manager
RESULTS
- Up-to-date and true stock picture
- Increase of the productivity of the forklift truck operators because of a better combination of the different internal movement tasks
- Since work is more task driven, not only are the operators supported in a correct and cost-efficient manner but the machines also take over part of the work
- The production processes are continuously optimized
- Production process reliability has increased considerably
- An important Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is the effective delivery on the requested delivery date. This KPI has increased significantly
