Apparatus and method for multivariate predictive model-based baking process control

A method for controlling manufacture of baked products, the method comprising:

• reshaping dough lumps to form dough pieces by a piece forming device, the dough pieces representing precursors of the baked products;
• providing a tunnel oven comprising at least one section and configured to bake the dough pieces to provide the baked products;
• providing at least a first sensor;
• detecting, via the first sensor, parameters associated with the dough pieces formed by the piece forming device;
• providing a controller including a programmable processor and being operatively coupled to the tunnel oven;
• obtaining, via the controller:
• electronic data representing the parameters associated with the dough pieces formed by the piece forming device and detected by the first sensor;
• electronic data representing target parameters of the baked products to be manufactured from the dough pieces in the tunnel oven;
• electronic data representing ambient environmental conditions;
• electronic data representing settings and conditions of the tunnel oven;
• correlating, by the controller, the obtained parameters of the dough pieces, target parameters of the baked products, electronic data representing ambient environmental conditions, and settings and conditions of the tunnel oven;
• based on the correlating, generating by the controller, using a control model, a first set of baking parameters of the tunnel oven predicted by the controller to cause the tunnel oven to produce, from the dough pieces inserted into the tunnel oven, the baked products with the target parameters;
• and
• producing the baked products having the target parameters by baking the dough pieces in the tunnel oven while controlling, via the controller, the tunnel oven to run the first set of baking parameters, generated by the controller based on a correlation of the obtained parameters of the dough pieces, target parameters of the baked products, ambient environmental conditions, and settings and conditions of the tunnel oven.