Hawaiian Host Group is not unique in having a real desire to automate, but with a healthy dose of caution behind it. “We had a number of reasons to take this journey,” explains Chris Rabago, director of manufacturing at Hawaiian Host Group, in a recent ROKStudios session. “Our isolated island location carries unique challenges. As we considered our transition into automation, those challenges were important to address to ensure we set ourselves up for success.
“Some of our staff were naturally cautious,” he continues, “with the understandable but stereotypical belief that automation was here to replace them. But that was not our focus at all. We wanted to optimize our operations by investing in technology that would complement and empower them. We put a big focus on how our employees would interact with robots. We wanted to leverage an intuitive user interface that’s approachable and aligns with a growing workforce that prefers a more digitalized working environment.”
Billy Goodman, managing director at Cama North America, explains the process: “We always adopt a consultative team-based approach. In fact, Cama’s work on this project was recognized by the 2023 World Confectionery Conference, where we won the Team of the Year award.
“The first step is to analyze and audit the precise needs of the customer,” he continues. “Then, using our ‘sand box’ of machines and modules, which include top- and side-load technologies, in conjunction with third-party solutions – vision, grippers, and, of course, automation in this case – we create customized solutions that match the precise needs of the application. Every project really is unique, even if the machines’ operating principles are relatively standard. In this instance, we had to balance multiple considerations, including personnel, factory space, real estate, and the operational demands.
“In these sorts of projects, partnerships are key,” Goodman explains, “not only to develop the initial concepts, but to then carry the package all the way through to fruition; and not just to day one, but to day 365 and far beyond. Some of our Industry 4.0 tools certainly suit the younger generation, who grew up working on phones and tablets.”
