Prosciutto di Parma consortium (Parma Ham https://www.parmashop.com/en/parma-ham.html ), is one of the finest hams in the world, with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certificate. The consortium consists of more than 50 000 workers. To achieve a smart and agile production system for the Parma Ham consortium, we’ve redesigned and organized various logistic processes in line with Industry 4.0 principles. Our approach involves leveraging AI as the central intelligence driving the entire logistics system (Figure 1).
Figure 1. AI as the central intelligence of smart and agile production system.
In this dynamic setup, AI assumes a pivotal role in the decision-making process within the factory. It acts as a key indicator of customer demand, triggering strategic and operational inventory decisions that seamlessly meet customer requirements. Furthermore, it communicates essential information to the production process, enabling planning & timing of production with aim of facilitating the replenishment of finished products. Beyond this, AI plays a proactive role in automating various tasks, such as designing the Vehicle Routing Plan (VRP), Material Resource Plan (MRP) for procuring raw meat from local suppliers, and crafting the Material Distribution Plan (MDP) for efficiently delivering final products to Point of Sale (POS) locations in the market. This integration of AI not only enhances operational efficiency but also contributes to the overall intelligence and adaptability of the production system.
