Don't bolt Al onto ERP—build a connected system from day one

In an exclusive interaction with Dataquest, Paritosh Ladhani, Joint Managing Director of SLMG Beverages, outlines how the Coca-Cola bottler has moved from legacy processes to a fully digitised, AI-enabled, smart-factory ecosystem.

- By Aanchal Ghatak

SLMG Beverages, a major Coca-Cola bottler in India, has instituted a significant digital transformation across its entire business.

Improvements to operation efficiency utilizing SCADA-enabled process control, AI-enabled inspections, cloud ERP and TenX's SaaS for intelligence for real-time business intelligence have reduced defect levels across SLMG's operations to below 0.1%, while also facilitating a 95% reduction in safety incidents, and ramping production to 33,000 bottles/minute. In addition to efficiency, these various structures have led to a more consistent product, faster decisions and more customer trust.

The following discussion with Joint Managing Director Paritosh Ladhani unveiled the mindset around technology, learning and leadership that made SLMG's evolution to a smart factory from a more traditional warehousing and bottling business even possible.

What operational gains have you seen from deploying SCADA, AI-powered inspections, EHS solutions, and automated ingredient handling?

SLMG Beverages has taken a modern approach to plant operations by employing SCADA-controlled processing, Al-powered high-speed camera inspections, AI-supported EHS solutions, and automated ingredient handling that provide tangible improvements in quality engineering, safety, efficiency, and cost savings.

The real-time visibility into sales, purchases, inventory, goods in transit, production, and financials has allowed SLMG to make decisions faster and more crisply with data.