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Ant Colony Optimization for Order Processing and Labeling Automation in Food Manufacturing Using ERP-MES-IoT Integration

TEM Journal | 2026

Paper Details

Authors: Borisov B.; Todorov V.

DOI: 10.18421/TEM152-01

Journal: TEM Journal

Year: 2026

Publisher: UIKTEN - Association for Information Communication Technology Education and Science

Document Type: Article

Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access

Cited by: 0

Abstract

This paper presents an integrated system for automating order processing and labeling in a food manufacturing enterprise. The solution links the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system with a custom Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and enables real-time communication with industrial loT devices such as labeling scales, mobile terminals, and thermal transfer printers. Production orders include attributes such as quantity, deadline, price, unit, barcode, and identifiers, which are dynamically printed on labels. A software agent retrieves orders, distributes tasks, and monitors operator interaction. To increase efficiency, an Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm generates production plans that balance workloads and reduce delays. The developed architecture ensures traceability, flexible label customization, and improved operator productivity. Experimental evaluation shows that the ACO-based optimization decreases processing time and supports timely order fulfilment under dynamic conditions. The study demonstrates that ERP-MES-IoT integration combined with optimization methods enhances responsiveness and efficiency in food manufacturing processes. © 2026 Borislav Borisov & Vladimir Todorov

Keywords

Ant Colony Optimization; IoT; order management; real-time labeling; Smart manufacturing