Accenture Collaborates with Mars to Develop “Factory of the Future” Using AI, Cloud, Edge and Digital Twins
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has partnered with Mars to modernize its global manufacturing operations through advanced technologies including artificial intelligence, cloud solutions, and digital twins. Since late 2020, they have tested digital twins to enhance production efficiency, including reducing over-filling instances at a factory in Illinois. The collaboration aims to develop a new cloud platform and apply digital twin technology globally, focusing on sustainability and operational efficiency. The initiative is part of Mars' broader strategy to innovate its supply chain and manufacturing capabilities.
- Collaboration with Mars to enhance manufacturing efficiency and sustainability.
- Successful pilot of digital twin technology leading to expanded implementation across the U.S., Europe, and China.
- Plans to create a new cloud platform aimed at improving operational performance and sustainability in manufacturing.
- None.
Accenture is working with Mars, the global leader in confectionary, food, and pet care products and services, to transform and modernize its global manufacturing operations with artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, edge technology and digital twins. (Photo: Business Wire)
Accenture and Mars have been trialing digital twins for Mars’ manufacturing operations since late 2020. Digital twins are virtual representations of machines, products, or processes. Fed with real-time data, they can predict and optimize production processes and equipment performance, from reliability to quality to energy efficiency. Applied to its manufacturing plants, digital twins will enable Mars to simulate and validate the results of product and factory adjustments before allocating time and resources in the physical space.
The companies tested a digital twin to reduce instances of over-filling packages, a common problem in the food industry. The digital twin gave Mars a bird’s-eye view of the production lines at one of its factories in
Under the new agreement, Accenture and Mars will work together to apply digital twin technology and models to the company’s manufacturing facilities globally. This will give Mars factory line operators real-time insights into current and predictive performance. Mars plans to apply them to dozens of use cases over the next three years.
Over the next two years, Accenture and Mars will create a new cloud platform for manufacturing applications, data and artificial intelligence (AI) to lay the foundation for its vision of the “Factory of the Future.” The new platform will provide next-generation robotics, AI and automation capabilities at the edge to make Mars manufacturing operations significantly more efficient and address essential sustainability goals such as water stewardship and reducing waste and total greenhouse gas emissions.
Accenture brings cloud, engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain capabilities to the project. It also works closely with Microsoft to leverage the Azure platform and Accenture’s proprietary edge accelerators. Earlier this year, Accenture was named Microsoft’s 2022 Manufacturing & Supply
About Accenture
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About
For more than a century,
Every year, our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality confectionery, food, and pet care products and services delight millions of people and supports millions of pets. With almost
We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our Associates to act every day to help create a better world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.
For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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Accenture
+44 78 5043 5158
tara.burns@accenture.com
Mars
+1 503-360-6796
michelle.jahnke@effem.com
Source: Accenture
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