Tyson Foods has opened a new facility in Danville, Virginia, which utilizes industry-first technology and innovative pilots and prototypes to increase efficiency and cut labor requirements. The $300 million facility is expected to provide about 400 jobs and demonstrates the company’s bet on automation. Tyson has experienced financial challenges recently, including a loss of $648 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, compared to earnings of $3.25 billion the previous year. Automation is seen as a way to boost safety, increase control, and enable real-time visibility into production. The focus on automation is also aimed at improving the company’s employee safety record, which suffered during the pandemic. To ensure success with automation, Tyson advises manufacturing chiefs to think broadly about the benefits, begin early with upskilling, find a training partner, stay up-to-date on the latest technology developments, and make culture central to the implementation. The Danville plant utilizes automated optical visioning, X-ray metal detection, and real-time data to ensure high quality and efficient operations.
