‘Boat-to-Plate’ Traceability

For example, nearly 70 percent of imported tilapia comes from China, which is the third largest fish and shellfish importer to the U.S. Unlike the open-water systems of the U.S., China’s pond and cage cultures are two common ways of farming tilapia. However, these closed systems limit the ease of expelling fish waste, uneaten food, and chemicals used to treat disease, increasing the risk of creating a polluted environment. By implementing quality checks by the fisherman, it is possible to ensure that the fish being sent to the U.S. were in fact healthy when they were caught. After the first check, the tilapia may make several stops before reaching U.S. soil, making it quite simple for the less-than-reputable to make a swap with escolar along the way.

With a global quality hub implemented by seafood manufacturers, tilapia can be checked on the boat, at the fishery, with the at-sea and land processors, as well as at the distributor through easy data entry via mobile computers and smartphones. The seafood producers can then send the resulting, real-time dashboards, analysis reports or email notifications displaying lot numbers, temperatures, check-in times, visual indicators, and general condition of shipping materials and delivery vehicles to the grocers and chefs to confirm the type of fish they will receive, and ultimately ensure the highest quality of product for the customer. Supermarkets can take it one step further and enter point-of-sale data such as on-site inspection, shelf placement, and in-store location into the same global quality hub to inform the producer that the product is also being displayed and sold properly.

Beyond the Fishing Hole

Ensuring traceability around the world and throughout the food supply chain is just one of the benefits of a global quality hub. Because all the data is stored in a single repository, food manufacturers improve their readiness for audits because they can run a report of data already in the system to prove they are in compliance with required quality checks.

Furthermore, upon entering the second life of the data, there are numerous ­opportunities for process improvement due to variation or overfill. With minor adjustments, both waste and costs can be driven down resulting in hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in cost savings. With tools available that incorporate real-time automation within a global quality hub, food manufacturers can meet time-specific regulatory requirements by scheduling quality checks at precise intervals and incorporating visual, audible, or electronic reminders. With the centralized data repository and specification limit automation capabilities of a global quality hub, these manufacturers can easily comply with SSOP (sanitation standard operating procedures), FSMA, 21 CFR Part 117, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and other regulatory requirements.

As more regulations are passed, food manufacturers face the growing concern of ensuring compliance based on many different stipulations. The key to compliance with both traditional and the new regulatory framework is embracing advancements in technology, such as cloud computing, mobile devices, and global quality hubs. With an effective system in place, food manufacturers can utilize manufacturing intelligence to mitigate the risk associated with product contamination and recalls, and optimize manufacturing operations to deliver a low-cost, high-quality product to the customer.

Wise is vice president of statistical methods at InfinityQS International. He focuses on ensuring proper use of statistical techniques within InfinityQS’ software offerings and application in the customer base. He can be reached at [email protected].

References Furnished Upon Request