West-Bake Ltd., a leading Irish baked-goods company, has partnered with Rockwell Automation to implement the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform™ across its operations, marking a significant step in the company’s digital transformation.
Located in Glenamaddy, Co. Galway, West-Bake operates a 44,000 ft² bakery, producing a wide range of muffins, cookies, and cakes for customers throughout Europe. As the company continues to grow, its adoption of the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform will enable more efficient inventory management, quality control, and digitalisation of its operations, helping West-Bake keep pace with expanding demand and evolving production needs.
West-Bake’s IT manager, PJ Shanks, highlighted the benefits the new system will bring. “By digitalising our inventory and quality records, we anticipate significant time, effort, and cost savings,” said Shanks. “The system’s integration allows us to maintain accurate records, reduce supply chain fluctuations, and better manage our stock levels. Moreover, Plex’s ‘train the trainer’ approach will make us self-sufficient when configuring the system for future products, new recipes, and additional manufacturing lines.”
The decision to implement the Plex solution came after a comprehensive evaluation process. Initially seeking an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, West-Bake’s team, alongside Rockwell Automation, identified the Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and Quality Management System (QMS) as key tools for improving efficiency across the business. This discovery allowed the company to refine its operations with a more tailored solution that met both short- and long-term needs.
Åsa Arvidsson, regional vice president for Rockwell Automation, noted that the Plex solution is especially valuable for companies like West-Bake that are keen to modernise and future-proof their operations. “Our consultative approach helped us understand the operational challenges at West-Bake, and we were able to deliver a solution that enhances control, management, and provides greater visibility into their manufacturing processes,” said Arvidsson.
The integration of Plex’s MES and QMS software will enable West-Bake to make informed decisions in real time by providing all internal stakeholders with access to accurate, up-to-date data. By capturing detailed manufacturing insights, the system will drive operational efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure high-quality standards in the production process.
Plex’s fully integrated system not only helps manage inventory and quality control but also boosts collaboration across departments, ensuring transparency throughout the supply chain. As West-Bake continues to scale up its production capacity, the platform’s scalability ensures that the company can smoothly expand while maintaining operational consistency and product quality.
By adopting Plex, West-Bake is taking a crucial step in its journey to digitise and optimise its operations, laying the foundation for future growth and ensuring its ability to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and competitive market.
Rockwell Automation, known globally for its industrial automation solutions, continues to play a key role in helping manufacturers like West-Bake modernise their operations and stay ahead in a fast-evolving digital landscape.
