Hovis expands IntelliAM AI partnership to drive bakery productivity
This expansion follows successful initial trials conducted at three key Hovis bakeries, where AI-enabled reliability consultancy helped develop bespoke maintenance plans and data-driven enhancements that notably improved production reliability.
UK – Leading UK bakery brand Hovis has significantly expanded its partnership with AI technology firm IntelliAM to advance productivity and reliability across multiple bakery manufacturing sites.
This major multi-site deal represents a ninefold increase on their original 2024 agreement and aims to embed AI-driven asset management and smart sensor technology deeply into Hovis’s production operations.
IntelliAM will deploy its AI platform and integrate innovative sensor interfaces into Hovis’s production lines, complemented by ongoing consultancy services aimed at improving reliability, asset availability, and overall productivity.
This expansion follows successful initial trials conducted at three key Hovis bakeries, where AI-enabled reliability consultancy helped develop bespoke maintenance plans and data-driven enhancements that notably improved production reliability.
The anticipated benefits of the partnership include enhanced maintenance planning, reduced equipment downtime, and improved operational stability, all powered by IntelliAM’s machine learning algorithms analyzing vast streams of machine data, including alarms, vibrations, and energy consumption.
Both companies expect these productivity gains to generate a full return on investment for Hovis within the first year of the expanded rollout.
“This next step investment in IntelliAM’s services and AI platform follows a thorough review of our initial engagement’s positive outcomes,” said Chris Bradley, Chief Operations Officer at Hovis.
“The deal aligns with our broader modernization strategy, especially after our recent acquisition by Associated British Foods and ongoing product innovation efforts.”
Tom Clayton, CEO of IntelliAM, highlighted the significance of the agreement as a landmark for the company, stating it validates the commercial value of their AI solutions and strengthens their partnership with Hovis.
IntelliAM aims to enable a new industrial revolution through intelligent asset management, helping manufacturers like Hovis leverage billions of machine data points for transformational productivity improvements.
IntelliAM already serves a quarter of the world’s top 100 FMCG companies, including industry leaders such as Müller, Mars, and Weetabix, and continues to expand its footprint in the food and beverage manufacturing sectors.
Hovis’s expansion of AI technology adoption underscores the rapid acceleration of digital transformation in the bakery and wider food production industry as companies seek to boost efficiency and sustainability amid competitive pressures.
This AI-driven partnership marks a significant advance in bakery operational technology, positioning Hovis to lead UK manufacturing productivity enhancement through innovative, proactive manufacturing practices with cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
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