Bel is one of the most iconic food groups in France. This giant has embarked on a project to transform the agri-food industry by becoming a pioneer in food tech. Elisabeth Ellison-Davis, Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, and Stéphane Dupays, Bel Chief Operation Officer, present Bel Group’s bold vision. From the digitalization of production processes to carbon neutrality, we take a look back at the partnership between this manufacturer and Dassault Systèmes.
“Bel Group is a company with a turnover of €4 billion but an ambition of €40 billion“. What better way to describe Bel Group than in the words of Elisabeth Ellison-Davis on the occasion of the 3DEXPERIENCE Forum 2024? “Our ambition is to revolutionize the future of food, and we are making substantial progress towards this goal. Unlike many others, we didn’t start with greenwashing tactics. We appointed a Chief Impact Officer to oversee both the sustainability and profitability of our project.” Indeed, the Bel Group has set itself ambitious CO2 neutrality targets and is transforming its product portfolio to include equal shares of cheese and fruit. Considering that it has already achieved 40% of its transformation goals, the iconic brand now plans to pick up the pace even more!
Digitalization: the driving force behind all transformations
Digital transformation plays a crucial role in Bel’s vision for the future of food. Stéphane Dupays explains: “Our vision is based on both our legacy and our capacity for innovation. We must innovate to ensure the sustainability of our company for future generations. To do this, we need to address two main challenges: innovation with respect to ingredients and the total commitment of our 13,000 employees.” Bel is collaborating with Dassault Systèmes to digitalize its entire value chain. “The end-to-end digitalization of our value chain is essential for this transformation,” explains Elisabeth Ellison-Davis. “We need to connect R&D with production and beyond. At present, many factories are not yet digitalized, and manual processes are still widespread.“
“We must innovate to ensure the sustainability of our company for future generations” – Stéphane Dupays, Chief Operation Officer, Bel
The importance of MES and PLM systems
To modernize its operations, Bel is implementing MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems. Elisabeth Ellison-Davis explains: “MES is all about bringing digital technology to the heart of manufacturing operations. This means reducing lead times, errors, and production waste. PLM, on the other hand, manages the information and processes associated with the various stages of a product’s life cycle, from design to market launch.” Bel Group’s approach is resolutely operational and pragmatic. As Stéphane Dupays explains, “We’ve learned from our past failures, and our approach is now more user-centric. Automation engineers and IT specialists have learned to work together, enabling us to leverage the strengths and expertise of each of the business lines involved.“
“Our partnership with Dassault Systèmes is not just about digitalizing our operations; it’s about coming together to transform the future of food.” – Elisabeth Ellison-Davis, Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, BEL
Dassault Systèmes & Bel: A fruitful collaboration, a strategic partnership
The collaboration with Dassault Systèmes is a central pillar of Bel’s transformation. Elisabeth Ellison-Davis explains: “Our partnership with Dassault Systèmes is not just about digitalizing our operations; it’s about coming together to transform the future of food. This partnership is based on a shared vision and common values, which changes the dynamics of every interaction.” For Stéphane Dupays, it is clear that Dassault Systèmes plays a crucial role, not just as a technology solutions provider, but truly as a partner. “Dassault Systèmes’ expertise comes mainly from technologically advanced sectors such as aerospace, but the teams supporting us are able to adapt these solutions in innovative ways to meet the unique challenges of our industry.“
When the future is being built today…
Bel Group continues to move forward towards its ambitious goals. Stéphane Dupays shares his thoughts with us: “Our next step is to successfully implement the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) project and ensure that the messages are clearly communicated. We still have many projects to roll out to connect the entire production chain, from supplier to end consumer.” This vision and aspiration are shared by Elisabeth Ellison-Davis, who adds: “What really sets our partnership with Dassault Systèmes apart is the alignment with our values and beliefs. This transcends the mere implementation of technology; it’s about building a shared future.” By combining an ambitious vision, advanced digitalization, and a strategic collaboration with Dassault Systèmes, Bel Group is well-positioned to revolutionize the food industry and achieve its ambition of becoming a leader in food tech without ever compromising on its sustainability goals.
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