Robotics remains in the early stages of implementation into bakeries and snack manufacturing plants. Although robots are being applied in new areas, there are still many processes where robotics could be incorporated in the future as further advances are made.

"Many bakeries have only started to look to robotics in the past few years versus other industries that have been using robotics for decades," said Roland Lomerson Jr., director of automation, AMF Automation Systems, Richmond, VA. "However, the realized need for robotic automation is arguably highest in the food production segment and specifically in the bakery and snack food industries."