Sistema automatizado de monitoreo para el proceso de empacado de leche en la empresa El Cortijo

Abstract

This project develops an automated monitoring system for the milk packaging process at the company El Cortijo, with the purpose of improving the accuracy, traceability, and efficiency of the operation. In the current situation, the process relies heavily on manual recording, which generates errors in the counting of containers, increases rework, and limits the ability to supervise the process in real time. To solve this problem, a mechanism that uses industrial automation tools is proposed. It includes sensors, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) touchscreen, and a physical scale model that replicates the real packaging process. The research begins with an in-depth examination of how the product is manufactured and what the production area requires. Then, a functional prototype is designed and assembled, capable of detecting the containers, keeping count, grouping them in sets of four, and operating two sealing machines in alternating turns, imitating the industrial operation but at a slower rate of four containers per minute. The tests confirmed that the mechanism works correctly, showing clear improvements in how the process is controlled and monitored, and demonstrating that the design can be transferred to the full-scale production line. The results indicate that the proposed method helps to improve the packaging process, makes better use of resources, and paves the way for integration with new Industry 4.0 technologies, making it a good option for updating the company’s operations.