Trends report 2024 – Industry 4.0: Empowering Through Digitalization

Digital transformation is a holistic shift that benefits organizations, their workforce, and the planet. It has been transforming global business for years, but the post Covid-19 era has witnessed a surge in its application. Businesses embracing industry 4.0 are integrating advanced connectivity and networks that facilitates human-machine communications between devices and the cloud with the aim to produce goods more efficiently across the value chain.

HARNESSING CLOUD TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION

Since the introduction of public cloud technologies, there has been a significant efficiency and productivity enhancement for Lallemand Health Solutions users. Implementing a new digital solution on the work floor connects and improves communications within production lines, delivers actionable insights and empowers employees. Lallemand Health Solutions has chosen a tailored application that allows to structure and manage the flow of information inside a factory, resulting in an increase in performance within the operating teams. With this kind of digital tool, employees can identify process flaws, improve production, and simply spend less time finding the data they need. This innovation empowers workers to perform their tasks more independently, while encouraging learning-as-you-go and skills development. The implementation of digital tools at the production level interconnects warehouses and supply chains and can help create a predictive machine maintenance schedule. This transformation increases operational efficiency and reduces production lead-time while supporting sustainable practices across the value chain.

“The recent implementation of a new digital solution in our three Canadian plants fosters a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement. Our employees have adapted to this modern tool with enthusiasm, appreciating the increased interactions the system allows them with their colleagues,” Stephan Griffoulière, Vice-President, Operational Excellence, Lallemand Health Solutions.

IMPLEMENTING NEW TOOLS TO ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

In a context of labor shortage and as employees seek jobs with a purpose, digitalization improves interactions, streamlines communications, and gives the opportunity to work more independently. In fact, 70% of employees associate their personal sense of purpose with their work (1). Being connected gives the employees the ability to see what is happening in real time, analyze issues, provide feedback, share ideas, and take decisions. Digitalization of the workplace puts the humans at the heart of the digital ecosystem, providing them with more tools to add sense and meaning to their lives. And when work tasks feel meaningful, employees tend to perform better, exhibit greater commitment, and are significantly less likely to seek new job opportunities. State-of-the-art technologies and automation serve Lallemand Health Solutions production workers that perform repetitive and physically challenging tasks. For example, to help carry and weight raw material, new exoskeletons will soon be implemented. They are perceived as a welcome solution to boost well-being and safety in the workplace, resulting in increased motivation.

While digitalization serves as a tool to enhance the quality of products, services, and the well-being of workers, this strategy aligns with the global consumer mindset focused on self-care, recognizing the interconnectedness of body and mind.

Download the full Trends report 2024: Future Horizons in the Microbiome Space

1. McKinsey, Purpose: Shifting from why to how, 2020.