Many chocolate factories plan automation ROI based on theoretical capacity.

Many chocolate factories plan automation ROI based on theoretical capacity.
On paper, the numbers look perfect.
In reality, the first year includes:
– recipe tuning
– operator learning curves
– cleaning & downtime
– mold and cooling limitations
Real output is often 30–40% lower than expected at the beginning.
When investment decisions ignore this gap, problems appear quickly:
– cash flow pressure
– production stress
– disappointment with automation
This doesn’t mean automation doesn’t work.
It means expectations need to match reality.
The most resilient projects plan for:
– realistic output
– gradual ramp-up
– modular expansion
Automation success is not about reaching maximum capacity fast.
It’s about reaching stable capacity safely.
If your current plan assumes everything will run perfectly from day one — it may be worth slowing down and revisiting the logic.