Articles
The Consumerization Of The Food Enterprise
November 15, 2012 8:00 am | by Christian Hutter, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage, Junction Solutions | CommentsAlready, retailers and many consumer packaged goods companies, early adopters of the “consumerization of the enterprise” movement, are enabling their customers to view detailed product and marketing information, pricing and delivery schedules once confined to an enterprise software system.
A New U.S. War: Restoring Our Competitiveness
November 14, 2012 9:30 am | by Gordon Zuckerman | CommentsToday, we are threatened by a new brand of economic imperialism. While the form of the threat is different, the results could be as destructive as the earlier dangers of previous problems from Fascist military imperialism, the spread of Communism and the more recent Jihadist terrorist attacks. The restoration of the competitiveness of the American manufacturer is a new kind of war we need to win.
Choose Your Weapons!
November 14, 2012 8:30 am | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | CommentsMost of us can name at least a generous handful of different business improvement or process improvement methodologies that have either come and stayed for a while or come and gone quickly. Some of us can even name a few that the rest of us have forgotten. With so much of a fad phenomenon in the improvement methodology track record, how do we choose one to adopt for our own needs?
Get Intelligent About Emerging Markets
November 13, 2012 9:37 am | by Pete Read, Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Analysis & Advisory and Rahul Dhingra, Senior Consultant at GIA North America | CommentsAny entry into emerging markets is fraught with uncertainties. There are no guaranteed winners. Take Carrefour for example. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter Brazil and its focus on the hypermarket model even as consumers buy more goods locally and online, its share prices have fallen since 2009.
Benefits Of Remote Monitoring In Meat Processing
November 13, 2012 8:00 am | by Dave Johnson, Senior Software Engineer, Matrix Product Development | CommentsRemote monitoring is exciting technology for meat processors. The benefits are numerous, including better yields and increased profits, less raw material waste due to improper cooking, product consistency, energy savings, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) compliance, improved worker safety and reduced liability.
Food Safety Update: Employee Training
November 12, 2012 10:19 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | CommentsThe Food Safety Update section of Food Manufacturing is designed to offer our readers insight into the state of food safety concerns across the industry. We received hundreds of responses to this month’s survey on employee training.
Q&A: Chocolate-Covered Success
November 12, 2012 9:53 am | by Lindsey Coblentz, Associate Editor | CommentsThe National Chocolate Show, the first trade show dedicated solely to chocolate in the United States, will be held in Chicago from Nov. 16 through Nov. 18. Show founder Mario Pi spoke with Food Manufacturing about the benefits the show will offer to food manufacturers and the overall chocolate industry.
Manufacturers Lead The Way To A Stronger Future
November 9, 2012 9:27 am | by Mark Hoper, Vice President of Expositions and Media, Fabricators & Manufacturers Association | CommentsInvestments in equipment are increasing across the board. That translates to more efficient production of the equipment that creates efficiencies for food production. New product and technology innovations, the status of the dollar in the international market, and the ability of the U.S. to export are advantages being leveraged. Manufacturing will continue to lead the U.S. out of this recession.
Shaking Up The Soda Industry
November 9, 2012 9:13 am | by Lindsey Coblentz, Associate Editor | CommentsWhile New York City's soda ban only affects drinks sold at sites inspected by the city’s health department — including movie theaters, restaurants and concession stands — the measure has shaken up an industry already rattled by a growing consumer emphasis on healthier drink options.
Thermal Processors Get Schooled
November 8, 2012 9:32 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | CommentsThermal processing is unique among food manufacturing techniques, as the heat applied to food products in such processes acts as a key component in flavor and product development in addition to performing an important food safety function. Training and guidance on proper thermal processing techniques are available to food processors looking to ensure their processes are safe and effective.
Food Safety In The Supply Chain
November 6, 2012 4:04 pm | by Barbara Levin, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Customer Community & Dan Bernkopf, Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Applications, SafetyChain | CommentsThrough emerging food safety and quality assurance technologies, food processors can save time, save money and create compliance efficiencies in their operations. Here are some real-world examples of how these technologies can help industry professionals.
Under The Sea
November 6, 2012 3:19 pm | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | CommentsThrough a business arrangement with the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority that pumps deep sea water to the surface for use in ocean-based research and business, Big Island Abalone in Kona, Hawaii is using advanced aquaculture techniques to produce abalone for a growing world market.
Q&A: Formulating Success
November 5, 2012 8:00 am | by Eric Schnell, Founder & CEO, MetaBrand | CommentsEric Schnell, co-founder of Steaz Teas and I Am Enlightened Nutrition, has spent the majority of his career helping natural product brands move from concept to retail shelves. His latest venture, MetaBrand, is designed to help natural product entrepreneurs perfect their processes and formulations for success in the retail arena.
Packaging Flour Bags: Creating The Perfect Pallet
November 5, 2012 7:30 am | by BEUMER Group | CommentsBay State Milling recently upgraded its Clifton, N.J., plant, installing a new bagging line that increased the plant’s production by nearly 30 percent. Key to the upgrade is new palletizing and pallet packaging equipment from the BEUMER Group.
Five Pests and Prevention Steps To Keep In Mind This Winter
November 2, 2012 11:55 am | by Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D., B.C.E., Director of Quality Systems, Orkin, LLC | CommentsThe weather outside isn’t the only thing that can be frightful during the winter — pests such as rodents, cockroaches, stored product pests, ants and flies can cause nightmares if spotted at food processing facilities. And while you may be seeking an escape from the chilly temperatures, these winter pests will be doing the same.
Prop 37: What It Means For The Food Industry
November 2, 2012 9:46 am | by Michael Steel, Attorney, Morrison & Foerster | CommentsProposition 37, the Genetically Engineered Foods Labeling Initiative, would require genetically engineered foods sold in California to be conspicuously labeled with the words “Genetically Engineered” or, in the case of processed foods, with the words “Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering.”
Catalyst Reduces Natural Gas Consumption At Ingredients Plant
November 1, 2012 12:49 pm | by William A. Whittenberger, President, Catacel | CommentsCPIngredientes, a food ingredients manufacturer in Guadalajara, Mexico, uses hydrogen produced by steam reforming natural gas to hydrogenate food ingredients. In the past, the company heated traditional ceramic pellet catalysts inside its reformer tubes during the hydrogen production process.
Workforce Trends 2012: Creating Qualified Jobseekers
November 1, 2012 8:00 am | by SOURCE Fluke | CommentsResearch conducted by Fluke Corporation plus interviews with leading educators and trainers point to the importance of extensive hands-on training to meet employers’ needs for industrial, electrical, and HVAC technicians. After a considerable drop in job opportunities through the depths of the recession, the outlook for technical jobs has turned positive.
Make Reward And Recognition Work
October 31, 2012 8:00 am | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | CommentsReward and Recognition is a difficult practice. Improving performance is about changing behavior and developing a culture that habitually practices the desired behavior. Reward and Recognition is an important and valuable tool for establishing that culture.
Manufacturing Digital Revolution: Exit Clipboard, Enter iPad
October 30, 2012 10:30 am | by Matthew Littlefield. President, LNS Research | CommentsSince users are driving demand and manufacturing software vendors continue to invest in stronger solutions, the market is expanding in terms of cross-functionality, user-friendliness, SaaS offerings, and interoperability. This time will be looked upon in history as a rapid expansion of business processing power.
