--- title: Podcast on Smart Factories within the Food Industry description: Yitch opens their brand new headquarters in Bornem. From here, we looking forward to shaping smart factories and the future of industrial organizations. image: https://blog.yitch.eu/hubfs/podcast%20foodtec.jpg --- [![Knowmad](https://blog.yitch.eu/hubfs/yitch-2024/images/Logo.svg "Knowmad")](https://www.yitch.eu/en/home) - [Yitch](https://www.yitch.eu/en/yitch) - [Solutions](https://www.yitch.eu/en/solutions) - [Services](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services) - [Cases](https://www.yitch.eu/en/cases) - [Blog & Insights](https://blog.yitch.eu) - [Events](https://www.yitch.eu/en/events) - [Jobs](https://www.yitch.eu/en/jobs) - [Contact](https://www.yitch.eu/en/contact) ## [Automation Bespoke automated control systems and user-friendly HMI tailored to your requirements.](https://www.yitch.eu/en/solutions/automation) ## [Digitalization Tailored digital solutions like MOMS designed to streamline your operations, prevent losses, and boost productivity.](https://www.yitch.eu/en/solutions/digitalization) ## [Data Advanced data analytics, contextualization, and insightful visualization powered by AI machine learning](https://www.yitch.eu/en/solutions/data) ## [Consultancy Expert analysis and tailor-made strategies to align automation and digitalization with your business objectives.](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services/consultancy) ## [Projects Streamlined project engineering and execution through agile methodologies and knowledge sharing, resulting in tangible outcomes.](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services/projects) ## [Staffing The outsourcing of experienced technicians with expertise to cope with knowledge loss or fluctuations in demand.](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services/staffing) ## [Continuity Proactive support and continuous improvement of production equipment, via on-site or remote monitoring.](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services/continuity) [Back to overview](https://blog.yitch.eu/?hsLang=en) # Podcast on Smart Factories within the Food Industry In the FoodTec Podcast, Björn Crul speaks with our CEO **Werner Fransen** and specialist **Samir Barrahmun** from Yitch about automation, digitalization, data and AI in food production. Together, they discuss the building blocks of the smart factory, the importance of a strong business case, how to create value from production data and where AI is already making a difference today. [Blog](https://blog.yitch.eu/tag/blog) 09.17.2026 ![yitch team](https://blog.yitch.eu/hubfs/podcast%20foodtec.jpg) #### **Shaping the Smart Factory in Food Manufacturing: Where automation, data and AI create real impact**  The food industry is under constant pressure to produce more efficiently, sustainably and flexibly. Rising costs, increasing quality requirements and growing consumer demands are pushing manufacturers to rethink the way they operate.The answer for many organizations lies in the smart factory: a connected production environment where automation, digitalization, data and AI work together to improve performance and support better decision-making. But becoming a smart factory is not about implementing the latest technology for the sake of innovation. It starts with a clear understanding of business objectives, operational challenges and the role data can play in driving continuous improvement. A successful digital transformation journey consists of multiple layers. Automation provides the foundation by increasing process consistency and reducing manual interventions. Digitalization makes production information accessible, while data platforms create visibility across operations.Once the right data is available and reliable, companies can begin leveraging advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to optimize processes, predict issues before they occur and unlock new efficiencies. The challenge is not the technology itself. The challenge is building a solid foundation that supports long-term value creation.  ![podcast foodtec](https://blog.yitch.eu/hs-fs/hubfs/podcast%20foodtec.jpg?width=6192&height=4128&name=podcast%20foodtec.jpg) #### Why data quality matters  Artificial intelligence continues to dominate conversations across industries, but AI is only as powerful as the data behind it. Many food manufacturers have access to large volumes of production data, yet struggle to transform that information into actionable insights. Without accurate, structured and contextualized data, AI initiatives rarely deliver the expected results. This is why data strategy, governance and quality remain critical first steps on the road toward smarter operations.    #### Technology must serve the business  One of the most common pitfalls in digital transformation projects is starting with technology rather than business goals. Successful manufacturers begin by identifying where improvements can generate measurable value. Whether the objective is reducing downtime, improving quality, increasing throughput or lowering energy consumption, every digital initiative should support a clear business case with a tangible return on investment. A structured roadmap helps organizations prioritize initiatives, align stakeholders and achieve sustainable results over time.    ![samir barrahmun](https://blog.yitch.eu/hs-fs/hubfs/samir%20barrahmun.jpg?width=4128&height=6192&name=samir%20barrahmun.jpg) #### People remain at the center  While technology enables transformation, people make it successful.Operators, engineers and production teams possess invaluable process knowledge and play a crucial role in the adoption of new systems and ways of working. Companies that actively involve their workforce throughout the transformation journey are far more likely to achieve lasting success. The factory of the future is therefore not only connected and intelligent, but also built around collaboration between technology and people.  ![podcast trio-1](https://blog.yitch.eu/hs-fs/hubfs/podcast%20trio-1.jpg?width=860&height=959&name=podcast%20trio-1.jpg) ## Listen to the podcast (Dutch)  🎙️ Listen to the full episode and discover how food manufacturers can take practical steps toward a smarter, more efficient and future-ready factory. [Listen now](https://open.spotify.com/episode/541rXQ4jLjO0mxVPiTWwBm?go=1&sp_cid=c6ebc88119fa24a31aa9972d4223f528&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&si=78f2d7d03f434db8&nd=1&dlsi=2fdc0933e7bf4f91) [![Logo](https://blog.yitch.eu/hubfs/yitch-2024/images/Logo.svg)](https://www.yitch.eu/en/home) ## We unlock the full potential of your manufacturing operations through automation, digitalization and by providing data-driven insights. - - - ### The company - [Home](https://www.yitch.eu/en/home) - [About](https://www.yitch.eu/en/yitch) - [Cases](https://www.yitch.eu/en/cases) - [Jobs](https://www.yitch.eu/en/jobs) ### Solutions - [Automation](https://www.yitch.eu/en/solutions/automation) - [Digitalization](https://www.yitch.eu/en/solutions/digitalization) - [Data](https://www.yitch.eu/en/solutions/data) ### Services - [Consultancy](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services/consultancy) - [Projects](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services/projects) - [Staffing](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services/staffing) - [Continuity](https://www.yitch.eu/en/services/continuity) ### Contact - [Belgium](https://www.yitch.eu/en/contact?which=belgium) - [The Netherlands](https://www.yitch.eu/en/contact?which=netherlands) - [UK](https://www.yitch.eu/en/contact?which=uk) - BE 0465.581.489 - [Privacy Policy](https://www.yitch.eu/en/privacy-policy) [![G-White](https://blog.yitch.eu/hubfs/yitch-2024/images/G-White.svg) site by Like a Virgin](https://www.likeavirgin.be/) © YITCH ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Author", "url" : "https://blog.yitch.eu/author/author" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-28T13:36:37.152Z", "datePublished" : "2026-09-17T08:45:00.000Z", "headline" : "Podcast on Smart Factories within the Food Industry", "image" : [ "https://blog.yitch.eu/hubfs/podcast%20foodtec.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.yitch.eu/podcast-on-smart-factories-within-the-food-industry", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.yitch.eu/hubfs/Yitch_Square.jpg" }, "name" : "Yitch bv" } } ```