As an Ag Operations leader at a busy produce processing plant, you oversee a yard teeming with trucks delivering loads of fresh, perishable produce. Your logistics dispatch team in the yard still relies on manual methods—whiteboards, clipboards, and walkie-talkies—to sequence hundreds of loads for processing every single day.
As each day progresses, the yard becomes a chaotic scene of trucks idling, drivers waiting for instructions, workers scrambling to manage the influx of produce and demands from plant operations around quality of the produce they need for the products they’re running, which vary for different outputs.
The complexity of sequencing increases with every load that enters the yard, efficiency dips and the risk of spoilage escalates. This scenario is all too familiar to many in the processing industry, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Enter ExtendAg’s Enhanced Load Sequencer
Load Sequencer, a module of ExtendAg’s mission-critical solution for sourcing, management, and visibility of raw crops from the farm to the processing plant, has been alleviating the complexity and inefficiency of manual load sequencing of perishable fruits and vegetables for processors across the country.
Over 45+ years of working with processors, ExtendAg has gained a deep understanding of the operational challenges processors face in the yard. The Load Sequencer solution was designed to address these critical challenges head-on to ensure processing operations run smoothly, efficiently, and with minimal waste.
How does Load Sequencer work?
Load Sequencer reduces the complexities of perishable goods management by automating load prioritization based on attributes like age and quality. It dynamically adapts to changing inventory, managing up to 300 loads at a time using a sophisticated algorithm that sequences loads to maximize the line’s output quality and minimize losses from lower quality loads.
What Challenges Does Load Sequencer Solve for Processors?
Load management is complex.
Managing multiple loads for different processing lines and produce requirements becomes increasingly complex, especially when different products require varying grades of raw produce. For example, in an ideal situation, lower grade tomatoes should be in a line for puree, while higher grade should be in a line for dicing. In reality, this doesn’t always happen.
Solution: Load Sequencer intelligently sequences loads as they arrive in the yard, ensuring each processing line receives the most suitable raw produce based on specific quality attributes. This intelligent sequencing enhances efficiency and maintains high quality standards across all product lines.
Manual sequencing is inefficient.
Traditional manual sequencing methods are slow and prone to human error, leading to inefficiencies and delays.
Solution: Load Sequencer automates load sequencing, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing human error. This automation allows for rapid adjustments to changes in the yard, making operations smoother and more responsive.
Load quality is highly variable.
Load quality often varies, and manual sequencing can result in inconsistent quality and misallocation of loads.
Solution: Load Sequencer’s algorithm assesses and ranks each load based on quality attributes, ensuring the right loads are assigned to the right lines. This strategic sequencing maintains consistent high-quality output across all processing lines.
Perishable produce spoil quickly.
Highly perishable fruits and vegetables risk spoiling if not processed promptly, leading to significant financial losses.
Solution: By prioritizing older and more perishable loads, Load Sequencer minimizes spoilage and the associated financial losses. Its efficient prioritization reduces costs related to manual ticketing and operational delays.
Real-time data is lacking.
The lack of real-time data in the yard makes it difficult to adapt to changes in load conditions or processing requirements, causing potential delays and spoilage.
Solution: Load Sequencer provides real-time visibility of all loads, allowing for dynamic adjustments and processing agility. This capability is crucial in high-throughput environments to avoid bottlenecks and maintain continuous operations.
Benefits of Load Sequencer
As raw fruit and veg processors look to digitize their operations, embracing a solution like Load Sequencer has numerous significant benefits, including:
– Faster, more efficient, and error-free load sequencing workflows
– Consistent, high-quality output across all processing lines
– Reduced waste and financial losses
– Increased Agility through real-time load monitoring and prioritization
– Reduced environmental impact and increased safety for truck drivers
Getting Started
Load Sequencer is a comprehensive, digital solution for yard management that outperforms traditional load sequencing methods, setting new industry standards for operational efficiency.
ExtendAg’s Load Sequencer stands alone as the only solution offering these benefits to fruit and vegetable processors. Request a consultation with the ExtendAg team today to learn how Load Sequencer can bring unprecedented efficiency to your operations.
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