THOMAS MACHIN, ROB TRAVIS
Stream Sensing, Manchester, United Kingdom

Abstract

Before the pandemic, consumer habits were already changing, with businesses expanding their online efforts to increase sales and develop better relationships with their consumers. The Covid-19 pandemic hit and accelerated the need to shop online, for everyday items such as personal care products. Now, continuous process innovation through the use of digital technology is high on the agenda for manufacturers to respond to consumer demand and tailor their products accordingly.
In this article, Rob Travis and Tom Machin of Stream Sensing, look at how personal care manufacturers should look towards digital processing technologies, such as real-time, in-line rheology measurement, to support their innovation efforts, new channels to market and product personalisation.

Manufacturers are continuously challenged to be more responsive, meet production targets, and maintain high quality standards for products in an increasingly dynamic, consumer-driven marketplace.

Most FMCG companies now have innovation programmes to adopt new digital technologies as part of their continual improvement (CI) initiative. Having the ability to see inside of a process, take in-line measurements, and change formulations using real-time sensor technology provides agility to the manufacturing process.

For a long time, rheology process measurement has been a challenge in manufacturing. Manufacturers are now exploring how sensor technologies can help them meet this industry challenge and tailor personal care products to market demand.

MANUFACTURING RESILIENCE THROUGH CONSUMER DEMAND
The last few years have seen a change in consumer habits, propelled further by the Covid-19 pandemic. These changes include: the evolution of digital channels; the desire for instant convenience and information and the rise of direct-to-consumer business models, providing the ideal platform for product ...