SafetyChain Blog

All food and beverage manufacturers have stringent food safety and quality requirements unique to their products, plants, and customer expectations. With the correct balance and prioritization of key performance indicators (KPIs), Plant Managers can reduce costs and increase capacity in their facilities. 

Leveraging data holds the key to driving greater efficiency and transparency. From plant facilities to entire supply chains, costly nonconformances can eat away at profit margins at a time when competition is high. As the global markets grow more complex, it’s crucial for manufacturing organizations to hone processes that access and interpret data in real-time to control variances and target quality.

As competition in the manufacturing industries ramps up on a global scale, organizations are seeking ways to drive sales while also remaining in compliance. Manufacturers may also want to capitalize on a breakthrough in their industry and compel continued momentum after the introduction of a new product or process. Whatever the reason, manufacturers are exploring tools like statistical process control (SPC) software in an effort to create higher-quality products without compromising productivity.

There is every sign that competition will continue to put the squeeze on manufacturers, even while demands for quality products and faster processes increase. Raw material costs are also rising, and manufacturers are searching for every possible way to weather increasing uncertainty and generate profit. And as it turns out, the answers to the question of how to survive in an ultra-competitive global market might lie a lot closer to home than many realize.

Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a critical metric for manufacturing plants to track. With proper, consistent measurement, this metric allows plant managers to track the overall performance of their facilities and determine the root cause behind line interruptions, unplanned downtime, quality rejections, and equipment problems. This root cause analysis saves manufacturing teams significant time and effort. Smart and sophisticated trend analysis through OEE software can uncover what might take weeks to diagnose. Here’s what you need to know about deploying this powerful solution in your plant.

While many process manufacturers understand the potential benefits of digital transformation, often, their vision is clouded by past failed projects. Just 30% of digital transformation initiatives are successful and because they require both time and financial investment. 

Fortunately, we can learn from past mistakes. With a little extra planning and preparation, you can pursue a foolproof digital transformation that supports positive change throughout your facility and sets you up for continuous improvement. Avoid the frustration of attempting a digital transformation and failing by adopting a data-first approach. 

On paper, “operational excellence” sounds great. Certainly, it’s something food and beverage manufacturers strive for, but how is it quantified, then achieved? To effectively spur continuous improvement in your facility, you must start with a clear, defined path and have a system in place to measure results. At the heart of that system are your KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).

Business Intelligence for Your Food Facility

What if you could oversee the operations of your entire business from the phone in your pocket (or in your hand, right now as you read this)?

What if you could LINK to the real-time performance of your business’s food safety, quality and operations with the same ease that athletes track fitness activity through a Fitbit?

GFSI certification helps companies achieve better food safety outcomes, and it can also boost competitiveness and support better overall performance. Yet, effective GFSI management poses certain obstacles for food and beverage companies, such as achieving ongoing compliance and being audit-ready on demand – using only the existing resources they have at their disposal. With automated tools and powerful analytics, food safety technology can help.