The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the nation’s largest trade association representing all segments of the dairy industry, and ABB, a global technology company that is driving the digital transformation of industries, have partnered to offer IDFA members a suite of automated systems, applications and integrated solutions that will help them to advance digitalization within their plants and facilities.
Through the new partnership, ABB will offer a top-to-bottom Digital Plant Assessment to IDFA’s members, including processors of milk, ice cream, yogurt, butter, cheese and dairy ingredients, as well as equipment and packaging manufacturers, Washington, D.C.-based IDFA said. The Digital Plant Assessment is focused on diagnosing operations before prescribing solutions and will seek to fill gaps within member companies’ manufacturing and/or production processing operations.
The assessment’s structured five-step approach allows ABB professionals to work jointly with IDFA member leadership and experts to unlock hidden value through digital technologies, IDFA noted. ABB’s signature Digital Plant Assessment can be conducted remotely or on-site to reveal opportunities for immediate and continuous operational improvement that will deliver enhanced process efficiencies and effectiveness.
“We are so pleased to partner with ABB, a global leader in technology and digital transformation across the food sector, to offer this important service to IDFA members seeking process and supply-chain improvements to grow their businesses and remain resilient in the face of future shocks,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. “There is no other trade association in dairy where processing members can join with world-class technology and digital solutions leaders to modernize their businesses, build resilience, and manage risk in today’s consumer-driven economy.”
As an IDFA Gold Business Partner supplying its unique services to the dairy processing and manufacturing industries, ABB will offer its signature Digital Plant Assessment at a discounted rate to IDFA members, the association said. IDFA members may learn more about the IDFA-ABB Partner Program at www.idfa.org/abb.
IDFA members also may tune in on June 18 at 1 p.m. ET for a special webinar hosted by Kevin Starr, research and development manager at ABB, titled, “Digital Readiness in the New Normal.” To learn more about the webinar and register to attend, please visit www.idfa.org/events.
