The Value of LIMS in Manufacturing
Read how LIMS can aid Production Effectiveness
It ’ s frustrating to witness the frequent recalls of products in recent years , causing significant wastage , all testimony to the need for paramount control of food safety and quality . One recent example was the recall of four cheese products due to potential contamination with E . Coli bacteria . Tragically , one person in Scotland died from the infection , whilst 11 others were hospitalised .
Ensuring food safety and quality is crucial in the food and drink manufacturing industry . Most factories already carry out laboratory testing to assess the quality of materials , checking for compliance with specified tolerances and ensuring they are free from contamination .
Despite these precautions , a significant challenge can arise in bridging the gap between laboratory tests and the busy factory floor . This gap manifests in issues such as isolation , rejects , rework and costly product recalls , the inability to track raw materials , human errors , lost documentation , delayed data and downtime . The breakdown in communication poses a considerable risk to both the efficiency of the manufacturing process and , more critically , to consumer safety .
The Crucial Role of LIMS
Some key benefits of implementing LIMS :
• Ensure Quality Control
Automated data collection and analysis help identify deviations from quality standards , enabling timely corrective actions to maintain high-quality standards .
• Track and Trace Materials from start to finish .
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• Automated Sampling & Labelling helps reduce the likelihood of sample mix-ups , thereby enhancing efficiency and safety .
• Schedule Batches
• Heldware
Ensuring food safety and quality is crucial in the food and drink manufacturing industry .
LIMS can help capture vital information quickly , conduct root cause analyses , evaluate downtime and calculate additional labour hours needed due to material failures , thereby allowing factories to detect batch rejections early , understand root cause , quarantine and possibly destroy product before despatch and thereby protect the consumer .
• Integration with Existing Lab Machinery Eliminate the need for keyboard entries and further minimise risks of operator error .
Harford LIMS Harford Control developed Laboratory Information
Management Systems ( LIMS ) to help food and beverage manufacturers optimise the laboratory testing process and provide real-time actionable information , as stand-alone or a fully integrated part of Harford MES . By automating tasks such as material usage confirmation , bulk material tracking and informing laboratory teams of sampling requirements , we help factories ensure material safety and quality , reduce risks and enhance efficiency . Real-time monitoring and seamless integration of lab equipment with Harford LIMS enables proactive management of non-compliant products .
Contact Harford Control by calling + 44 ( 0 ) 1225 764461 or send an email to info @ harfordcontrol . com