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A crescente exigência da indústria alimentar ao nível da qualidade, segurança alimentar e eficiência operacional tem impulsionado a implementação de tecnologias automáticas nos processos de transformação de fruta. Os sistemas automáticos de seleção ótica permitem melhorar o controlo de qualidade, reduzir a variabilidade da matéria-prima e aumentar a eficiência dos processos produtivos. O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido numa unidade industrial da Frulact e teve como principal objetivo reavaliar e otimizar o comissionamento de um equipamento automático de seleção de fruta. O estudo incidiu na reorganização dos programas de seleção, formação técnica das equipas, realização de testes com novas matérias-primas e implementação de melhorias operacionais associadas à metodologia SMED. Numa fase inicial, a taxa média de utilização da escolha automática correspondia a 58%, evidenciando margem para otimização da tecnologia instalada. Após a implementação das melhorias, verificou-se um aumento progressivo da utilização do equipamento, atingindo 79% no final do estudo. Paralelamente, a aplicação de princípios SMED permitiu reduzir o tempo médio de setup em aproximadamente 56%, contribuindo para melhorar a eficiência operacional e reduzir tempos improdutivos. Os testes realizados demonstraram potencial para integrar novas matérias primas na seleção automática, embora algumas referências tenham apresentado limitações relacionadas com as características físicas da fruta e dificuldade de deteção de determinados corpos estranhos. A formação técnica permitiu aumentar a autonomia das equipas e reduzir a dependência de suporte técnico externo. De forma global, os resultados demonstraram que a otimização contínua do comissionamento contribuiu para melhorar a utilização do equipamento, aumentar a eficiência do processo e reforçar o controlo de qualidade das matérias-primas na indústria alimentar.
Abstract: The increasing demand of the food industry for quality, food safety, and operational efficiency has encouraged the use of automatic technologies in fruit processing. Automatic optical sorting systems help improve quality control, reduce raw material variability, and increase production efficiency. This work was carried out at one industrial unit of Frulact industrial plant and aimed to reassess and optimize the commissioning of automatic fruit sorting equipment. The study focused on reorganizing sorting programs, providing technical training to the teams, testing new raw materials, and implementing operational improvements based on SMED methodology principles. At the beginning of the study, the average use of automatic sorting was 58%, showing there was room to improve the use of the installed technology. After the implementation of the proposed improvements, the use of the equipment increased gradually, reaching 79% at the end of the study. At the same time, the application of SMED principles reduced the average setup time by about 56%, helping improve operational efficiency and reduce downtime. The tests carried out also showed the potential to integrate new raw materials into the automatic sorting process, although some fruit references presented limitations related to fruit characteristics and difficulties in detecting certain foreign materials. Technical training increased the autonomy of the teams and reduced the need for external technical support. Overall, the results showed that continuous optimization of the commissioning process improved equipment utilization, increased process efficiency, and strengthened raw material quality control in the food industry.
Abstract: The increasing demand of the food industry for quality, food safety, and operational efficiency has encouraged the use of automatic technologies in fruit processing. Automatic optical sorting systems help improve quality control, reduce raw material variability, and increase production efficiency. This work was carried out at one industrial unit of Frulact industrial plant and aimed to reassess and optimize the commissioning of automatic fruit sorting equipment. The study focused on reorganizing sorting programs, providing technical training to the teams, testing new raw materials, and implementing operational improvements based on SMED methodology principles. At the beginning of the study, the average use of automatic sorting was 58%, showing there was room to improve the use of the installed technology. After the implementation of the proposed improvements, the use of the equipment increased gradually, reaching 79% at the end of the study. At the same time, the application of SMED principles reduced the average setup time by about 56%, helping improve operational efficiency and reduce downtime. The tests carried out also showed the potential to integrate new raw materials into the automatic sorting process, although some fruit references presented limitations related to fruit characteristics and difficulties in detecting certain foreign materials. Technical training increased the autonomy of the teams and reduced the need for external technical support. Overall, the results showed that continuous optimization of the commissioning process improved equipment utilization, increased process efficiency, and strengthened raw material quality control in the food industry.
Descrição
Trabalho de Projeto apresentado à Escola Superior Agrária da Universidade Politécnica de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Inovação e Qualidade na Produção Alimentar.
Palavras-chave
Seleção automática de fruta Comissionamento industrial Segurança alimentar Eficiência operacional Automatic fruit sorting Industrial commissioning Food safety Operational efficiency