December 10 2019
According 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 the pandemic. Years later, companies are still dealing with the pressures of preventing recalls and contamination. A powerful Warehouse Execution System (WES) partnered 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.
Westfalia 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 ventures can reap long-term benefits in the form of cost, labor, and energy savings.
Contact one of our experts to learn more about how your food operation can benefit from automation!