Smartz4Can: Digitalization of SMEs in the Fish and Seafood Canning Industry

The Challenge

The fish and seafood canning industry is characterised by complex processes, strict food safety requirements, and fluctuating production demands. Many SMEs still depend on manual data collection, paper-based quality forms, and limited real-time visibility over production performance. This leads to inefficiencies, delayed decision-making, and challenges in maintaining traceability across the supply chain. Smartz4Can set out to bridge this gap, creating a scalable digital solution that connects factory operations, enhances data-driven management, and strengthens compliance with food safety standards.

The Solution

Smartz4Can deployed a MES-MOM digital platform tailored for canning factories. The system integrates automation data, ERP information, and manual inputs to provide a unified real-time overview of production. Key features include:

• Automatic data capture from closing machines, packaging lines, and case packers to calculate real-time KPIs such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Digitalised quality and food safety forms, replacing paper-based procedures with interactive electronic records that enable immediate detection of deviations.
• Warehouse and material management, including raw material reception, stock visualisation, and consumption tracking.
• Historian and reporting tools for process monitoring and performance analysis.

Through close collaboration between technical developers and factory teams, the platform was customised to the canning industry’s specific needs, integrating seamlessly with existing automation and ERP systems.

Impact

Smartz4Can demonstrated tangible benefits in operational efficiency, process control, and sustainability:

• Productivity gains: OEE improved from 57% to 59%, with a target of 62% by the end of 2025.
• Improved traceability and food safety: Full digital control plans ensure compliance and eliminate paper-based errors.
• Reduced waste and resource use: Data-driven monitoring supports better energy and material efficiency.
• Scalable solution: The MES-MOM system is modular and adaptable for other SMEs in the canning and wider food industry.

The project achieved excellent results against its key performance indicators, confirming both the technical robustnessand commercial potential of the developed solution.

What’s Next?

Following the successful implementation at Conservas Lago Paganini, the next phase focuses on replication and transfer to other companies in the Galician canning cluster and beyond. The platform will continue evolving with enhanced analytics and sustainability metrics to support smarter, greener factories. Smartz4Can stands as a model for how digitalisation can transform traditional agri-food industries, making them more efficient, competitive, and sustainable.