FOOD OPERATION SAFETY
Automation for
safer food operations and
Distribution
A ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , about 48 million people in the U . S . get sick , 128,000 are hospitalized , and 3,000 die each year from foodborne diseases ! Food safety is an issue that affects all Americans and should be regarded as an important step in the food processing industry . Not only are consumers in danger of illness or death , but a contaminated food product also leads to losses that no company wants to sacrifice : reputation and market value .
The FDA ’ s Food Safety Modernization Act ( FSMA ) was signed into law in January of 2011 in an effort to try and combat this occurrence . Years later , companies are still dealing with the pressures of preventing recalls and contamination . Not to mention the added pressures of COVID-19 and being able to deliver non-contaminated food at a rapid pace .
With people turned towards panic buying , shortage of essential items including processed and packaged food has put tremendous pressure on the sector to maintain a continuous supply . While the impact of Covid-19 is expected to overshadow different sectors for the next few months or even a year , a majority of industries including food and beverage industries are eying the adoption of robots and automated processes as the only resort for the future , showcasing the high growth potential for the food automation market in the coming years .
A powerful Warehouse Execution System ( WES ) integrated with an Automated Storage / Retrieval System ( AS / RS ) provides the solution many producers need to win the battle once and for all .
The advantage with an automated system lies in its ability to track and trace food products throughout the supply chain . At any point in time , a WES can show you which products are in stock and which have been shipped , decreasing the risk of damaged , stolen , or misrouted items . In the case of a recall , manufacturers can see which load came in from where , and on what day , to easily and quickly pinpoint the exact inventory that could be contaminated . What ’ s more , AS / RS technology dramatically reduces the time it takes for pallets to be processed and shipped out , both improving productivity and decreasing the chance of spoilage and waste .
The right partner understands the pressures facing food manufacturers and distributors with new regulations being passed every day . Automation is the solution companies can employ to abide by the high quality and safety standards set by the FDA and others . With an automated system , food companies can reap long-term benefits in the form of cost , labor , and energy savings .
26 The Satellite Review www . WestfaliaUSA . com