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Screening out paperwork in food processing speeds up production – University of Reading

Paperless management of data involved in food production can dramatically slash the time supervisory and middle management staff spend in meetings, speed up production and so add value to business.

A new initiative at the University's School of Food Biosciences will offer food and dairy manufacturers the chance to see how IT can revolutionise the treatment of their operational data. Operator positions in industries such as traditional British cheesemaking will be equipped with touch screen panels that will give required prompts and limits and replace traditional paper records. Product data, quality management, manufacturing controls, engineering, HAACP (hazard analysis critical control points), quality management and any other function will draw inputs from the same basic data and by network and screening will be available to functional departments and plant managers.

One plant where this system was installed reduced morning meetings from one and a half hours to five minutes since all attendees had common information.

Specialist company Omron will be supplying the demonstration system that takes data from a number of processes including curd production for processed cheeses.

The project at Reading is headed by Professor Leo Pyle with Dr Kevan Leach of Leach Associates. Funding is being sought from the Government's Advanced Food Manufacturing Link programme, which will provide up to 50 per cent of the costs of equipment and research but industrial partners are sought to contribute £36,000 each over four years. Two levels of membership are being considered to attract smaller firms. Tailored presentations by industry group or individual company can be carried out.

For further details, please contact Sue Rayner or Carol Derham on 0118 378 8004/5 Fax 0118 378 8924.