Leveraging AI in dairy and beverage manufacturing to ensure product quality: Sanjay Singal, COO, Dairy & Beverages, ITC Foods
AI) taking centre stage in all industries, ITC is focusing on technology to revolutionse its dairy and beverages supply chain in several ways. Sanjay Singal, COO, Dairy & Beverages, ITC Foods, says digital technologies, including AI-powered sensors and machine learning algorithms, can help monitor and maintain product quality throughout the production process.
In an interview with ET Digital, he explains how the company is employing AI in its dairy and beverages manufacturing facilities to ensure product quality via tools such as visual inspection systems, and real-time monitoring with feedback mechanisms. Edited excerpts:
Economic Times (ET): Many ITC categories, including dairy & beverages, recently faced inflationary headwinds.
How did ITC cut down costs in the value chain?
Sanjay Singal (SS): As a consumer-centric organisation, we focused on measures that enabled us to optimise the cost across the value chain to enable us to not burden consumers. Different cost vectors across the value chain were evaluated to offset any impact.
We implemented cost-effective solutions in both manufacturing and supply chain so as to not pass the burden of inflation to consumers.
ET: What are your plans to further expand dairy and beverages portfolio in India?
SS: In line with ITC’s philosophy to provide healthy and innovative products to consumers, this year we launched a portfolio of smoothies, fruit-based beverages with fruit chunks and seeds.
Interestingly, we witnessed a surge in consumer preference for dairy-based and hydration products.
We will continue to leverage ITC’s R&D expertise, manufacturing capabilities, harness the power of digital to drive superior consumer insights & innovation, and bring delightful products to
