- Background
- What we're looking for
- What we can offer you
- Who we are
- Q&A
Ensuring the quality and stability of ice cream across production, storage, and distribution presents significant challenges. Factors such as ingredient consistency, process variations, and environmental conditions impact texture, crystallization, and shelf life. Traditional quality control methods may not provide the timely or detailed insights needed to proactively manage these complexities.
To address this, General Mills is seeking instrumentation-based solutions for in-line imaging that enable the acquisition of high-resolution, multimodal data during production. These data will support computer vision models and predictive analytics already under development. The objective is to capture raw imaging data (e.g., hyperspectral, thermal, multi-spectral, RGB) that can detect variations in product structure, appearance, and stability-related properties.
These technologies would enable real-time diagnostics, enhance quality control, reduce waste, and improve product consistency and shelf-life across diverse storage and distribution conditions.
We are looking for in-line imaging instruments capable of acquiring high-quality data to support computer vision–based quality monitoring of ice cream during manufacturing.
- In-line hyperspectral and thermal imaging systems
- High-resolution RGB or multi-spectral cameras
- 3D surface scanning (laser or structured light)
- Near-infrared (NIR) imaging
- Ultrasound imaging
- Multimodal imaging rigs combining multiple imaging modes into a single platform
- Sensors that detect texture or crystallization patterns in frozen products
- Delivers high-quality raw imaging data (e.g., RGB, thermal, hyperspectral, etc.) suitable for post-processing
- Operates in-line within manufacturing environments under variable temperature and humidity conditions
- Clear rationale for how acquired imaging data will inform product consistency, texture, ingredient distribution, potential instability, and/or shelf-life estimation
- Real-time monitoring
- Modular or scalable hardware configurations adaptable to different line setups
- Imaging systems with minimal calibration and maintenance requirements
- Synchronized capture with environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, etc.)
- Development of AI, computer vision algorithms, or predictive software
General Mills is committed to making food with passion and putting people first by delivering the tastes they love while improving the nutrient density, affordability, and accessibility of our products. We collaborate with scientists, universities, companies, and organizations around the world to strengthen our impact and bring our purpose to life.
Learn moreThe Q&A is now closed.
Other recommended requests
delivered to your inbox.