When James Shutts was acquired as CEO of the main bakery almost two years ago, he entered a company with decades of history and decades of operation inertia. He immediately recognized the opportunity to reduce his business while reducing inefficiency and reducing the inefficiency of Granola Company, headquartered in Connecticut and creating a list of things.
Shutts said, “Manufacturers often get an thinking method that we’ve been doing this forever.
SHUTTS has set up a strategy to relocate a 30 -year -old business for long -term success. We have clarified brands, simplifying operations, and invested in expandable modern technology. It’s a company My uncle collapsedFocus on the product lineSIntroduce automation to eliminate bottlenecks and strengthen manpower.
UNCLE CRUMBLES now not only surpasses legacy brands, but also lays the foundation for expanding its automation.
Shutts said, “When I went in, we got 87 safe quality foods (SQF) scores. Now we are 99 people.
Recreate a 30 -year -old company
Branded by Connecticut -based companies with UNCLE CRUMBLES, the company focuses on a clear identity that matches the core products (mainly granola, oats and oatmeal) and the creative culture of the company. Uncle Crumbles showed more powerful performance than the previous brand because it narrowed the number of SKUs and doubled certain products.
“We had 40 SKUs in the shape and size of all types, but there were a few demands.” With the new Oracle Netsuite ERP system, we have used real -time internal data and we can simplify the product to less than 10 people through the feedback of the most powerful consumers. “
And the driving force continues. Thirty years later, 30 years later, UNCLE Crumbles had a chance to approach a broader audience. In response to the increase in demand for consumers and the interests of major retailers, the company expands to standard oats, maintaining the use of oats that do not have gluten for all natural ingredients and unclembles brands. Result: Product lineup that appeals to both health and value -oriented consumers.
The shift also means that the company can bid in a business that has now had to start business. Shutts said, “The top five grocery stores sent 20 bidding last year and were not gluten -free, so only 2 people could respond.” It’s changing now. “
However, as more business progresses and horizons, Shutts has seen the need to deploy automation to build a market share and use the opportunity to change the inefficient ways of thinking.
“We have retreated, but now the reins are free,” he said. “우리가 가져 오는 장비는 고객이 원하는 더 복잡한 상지와 대량 품목을 처리 할 수 있습니다. 예라고 말할수록 더 많은 기회가이기는 기회가 많을수록, 역사적으로, 사고 방식은 우리가 가진 것과 일하지 않은 것과 일하는 것이 었습니다.”
Future -oriented approach to automation
Uncle’s automation experience has not been successful. Shutts is finally his own “Robot cemetery”It was composed of installed automation equipment, but it could not be run and pushed to the side.
This time, SHUTTS said it strategically thought about the location and partner relationship to distribute automation. Automation in the next few months formDelkor and PattyN will hit the production floor of the uncle’s uncle and handle the automatic pallet, carton and case packaging on the production line.
First of these -completely managed Robot Paletizer In formic -living in a few weeks. Employees manually accumulate 50 pounds of boxes, causing injuries and inefficiency.
“We literally hold 50 pounds of boxes by hand by hand by hand,” he said. “You can’t ask employees to do so. We are more efficient and can increase your skills at the same time.”
When SHUTTS first joined the company, he realized that many manual work in practice could be automated to improve productivity and ergonomics to eliminate the possibility of injuries due to bending, lifting and twisting.
Uncle Uncle Crumbles has been changed to formic so that new businesses can be quickly delivered. SHUTTS says that formal fast deployment, monthly contracts and $ 0 CAPEX are large advantages, but it is the top of cherry to include complete support for prevention and corrective maintenance.
“In the format, we said, ‘Let’s take it now’ and we were able to start the automation plan quickly. If the customer wants something else, we have an option to change and move quickly.”
Automation gives employees permissions
In the case of shutts, automation is not just about throughput, but a better job. He focuses on retraining and experiencing employees in order to support and manage new systems rather than replacing new systems.
“We’re trying to end more, but it will be easier,” he said. “We will run five days a week, 24 hours a day. I want a robot to run with a non -stop.”
form Training the operator as part of the deployment, helping workers to play new roles. In other words, in combination with a more efficient workflow, the uncle’s collapse can now be called “yes” in order before the box size, configuration or volume function.
In addition to retraining line workers, Shutts focused on developing more powerful management pipelines. “We need more team leads. We need more administrators.” Now he has a way for people to arrive there. The emphasis on work has created a new internal opportunity to match the company’s growth trajectory.
The approach reflects the Connecticut stock champion. Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s top manufacturer“All manufacturers in Connecticut should consider to ensure sustainable growth trajectory,” he said.
Lavoie said, “While investing in industrial innovation and automation, the workforce is a formula for the success of the manufacturing industry as well as in the nation, while the manpower is not only in Connecticut.
Basic construction for the future
The story of UNCLE Crumbles is not one of the new equipment or new logos, but about the way that everything has been done to build a more powerful and more powerful business clarity and more powerful business.
Safety accidents are decreasing, operating scores rise, employees are in high -end salaries and are physically demanding. Operating the company has introduced new scanner systems and inventory controls to improve the visibility of production and implementation when the team expands to high quantities.
Shutts said, “We were ahead of a good game.” But after automation. ”
UNCLE CRUMBLES is now building a modern and expandable business. Mixing product quality with operating agility and putting manpower at the center of change. Without maintaining anymore, the company is responsive and sets the speed of how people can see.
“Do you want to maintain the gluten -free business operated by a small family, or do you want to grow?” The shirt said. “We are choosing to grow.”
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