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Yili, a leading dairy company in China, has debuted an AI-generated comic series focused on supply chain traceability at the fourth China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing. The series, titled The Full Chain Alliance: Enora's Super Adventure, was developed in collaboration with the China Agricultural Film and Television Center to provide a visual representation of the end-to-end dairy production process.

Translating Operational Data into Narrative

The initiative employs generative AI to translate technical quality and operational data into an accessible narrative format. By visualising the journey from raw material sourcing to final distribution, the company aims to improve transparency regarding the stages of the dairy ecosystem.

The series is structured into three primary chapters designed to outline different facets of the supply chain:

• Empowering Farms

• Making Manufacturing Smarter

• Expanding Global Reach

According to the company, this digital approach is intended to provide a more tangible understanding of the logistics and quality assurance protocols involved in large-scale dairy production, making the behind-the-scenes processes more accessible to stakeholders and the public.

Overview of Global Operations

Yili currently manages a supply chain that includes over 2,000 partners across 39 countries. The company’s operations involve a range of technical and agricultural initiatives aimed at maintaining quality standards across its diverse market footprint.

Key elements of the current operational framework include:

• Upstream Support: Partner programmes that provide capital, technology, and risk-sharing support to farms to standardise raw milk quality.

• Smart Manufacturing: The operation of 77 automated production facilities globally, including a liquid milk manufacturing hub capable of processing 6,500 tons of fresh milk daily.

• Technological Collaboration: Implementation of fruit-preservation technology through partnerships with AGRANA, now utilised at over 20 plants internationally.

• Forage Cultivation: Management of forage cultivation across more than 1 million acres within China.

Industry Impact

The development of the comic series reflects a growing trend among large-scale food manufacturers to utilise emerging technologies for supply chain communications and partner relations. By digitising the traceability journey, Yili seeks to highlight its focus on smart manufacturing and international cooperation. This project serves as a representation of how data-driven industries are shifting toward digital storytelling to articulate complex supply chain networks.