On 3 June 2023, a monitoring visit to the “KARA YEV KAREN LLC” enterprise was conducted by the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) experts Ms. Susanna Hakobyan and Mr. Perch Bojukyan, alongside business planning expert, Mr. Artur Ghazaryan. The purpose of the visit was to assess the implementation of the RECP measures recommended to boost the production of dairy products and to support the development of a RECP action plan.
During the monitoring visit, one notable improvement observed at this company located in Vanadzor, Lori region was the replacement of a semi-automatic filling line with a fully automatic line. This change positively affected the production of dairy such as sour cream and yogurt. This new line also eliminates the need for manual labor and increases productivity. This change is expected to enhance efficiency in the production process.
This upgrade introduces several technical advancements and benefits:
- Increased Automation: The fully automatic line operates without the need for manual labor. This means that tasks such as filling the liquid and semi-viscous dairy products into plastic containers (cups) and capping them with a lid are now performed automatically. The removal of manual labor reduces the risk of human error and variability, ensuring consistent product quality.
- Improved Productivity: The automation of the filling process significantly enhances productivity. With the previous semi-automatic line, the production output may have been limited in terms of speed and the capacity of manual operations. However, the fully automatic line allows for higher throughput, enabling the production of a larger quantity of dairy products within a given time frame. This increased productivity can lead to cost savings and better fulfillment of market demand.
- Enhanced Efficiency: The introduction of the fully automatic line improves overall operational efficiency. The automation streamlines the production process, eliminating bottlenecks and reducing the time required for each production cycle. As a result, the enterprise can achieve faster turnaround times and meet customer orders more promptly. Additionally, the optimized efficiency can help minimize waste and resource consumption, contributing to sustainable manufacturing practices.
- Quality Control: The automatic filling line may incorporate advanced monitoring and control systems. These systems can ensure precise and consistent product measurements, accurate filling volumes, and reliable sealing and capping processes. By maintaining strict quality control measures throughout production, the enterprise can uphold product integrity and meet regulatory standards.
Scalability: The fully automatic line provides a foundation for potential scalability. As manual labor is eliminated, the enterprise can potentially adjust and increase production capacity without the constraints of labor availability. This scalability enables the enterprise to adapt to market demands, expand its product portfolio, and explore new business opportunities.
The enterprise has also expanded its market reach. Besides supplying dairy products to various regions in Armenia, they now provide their "Narine" probiotic products to kindergartens in Yerevan. Moreover, the enterprise has started producing butter, gaining significant popularity due to its high quality. Additionally, a decision was made to commence the production of low-fat dietary cheese, indicating a new focus to diversify their product range to cater to different consumer preferences.
In terms of sustainability, the director of the enterprise agreed to install an electricity meter with a dual day/night rate, as suggested by the RECP experts. This move aims to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs by taking advantage of lower electricity rates during off-peak hours.
Furthermore, the RECP experts shared a new proposal with the enterprise staff: the production of sheep cheese. This recommendation is based on the high demand for this product (not only within the country but also abroad). This opportunity could potentially open up new markets and contribute to the enterprise's growth and profitability.
Overall, the monitoring visit at “KARA YEV KAREN” LLC recorded significant progress in the implementation of RECP measures, the adoption of a fully automatic filling line, product diversification, energy optimization measures, and means to explore new market opportunities. Together, these efforts demonstrate the enterprise's commitment to improving its efficiency and sustainability, and to better respond to market demands.
