Meat Processors Use ERP to Manage Quality

If you are in the meat processing industry, then you know all too well the importance of quality control. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six (about 48 million) Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses caused by pathogens such as Salmonella, Norovirus, Listeria, and Escherichia coli (E. Coli), each year. Annually, 128,000 Americans require hospitalization and 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses (1). Clearly, maintaining strict quality standards is paramount not only for meeting regulations and food safety standards, but for keeping your customers safe and healthy!

Quality assurance can be a complicated process in the meat industry, with so many factors to consider throughout the entire supply chain. Manual processes and checks are time-consuming and prone to human error. Luckily, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions designed for the food and beverage industry can help meat processors uphold the highest standards with greater automation and visibility.

Monitor Quality Checks with Complete Supply Chain Traceability

Many midsize meat processors only have internal traceability functionality, providing a one-up, one-down view for each product batch. To uphold quality standards, it is essential to have visibility throughout the entire supply chain. ERP software provides total traceability of products and raw ingredients, along with real-time tracking of inbound shipments and quality checks. This allows meat processors to keep a close eye on suppliers and ensure that raw ingredients meet quality requirements, as well as providing instant information on any delays or issues.

Maintain Quality Standards Throughout the Entire Production Cycle with Total Visibility

Once raw materials are received, meat processors need to conduct various quality checks throughout the production cycle. Everything from small changes in temperature to humidity can significantly impact the quality of meat. ERP allows you to locate batches of product at any point in the production process and view any associated quality checks. You can also define quality standards and acceptable parameters, which your team can access at any point from one single source of truth. This maintains a level of quality and consistency throughout the entire production process. ERP allows meat processors to keep a close eye on products and procedures from a single, digital access point, so they can make sure each step of the production cycle maintains the highest standard of food safety.

Catch Hazards Early and Take Immediate Action with Instant Alerts

Even with the most stringent quality control procedures, meat processors will encounter products or ingredients that fall short of quality standards. To minimize any losses and prevent contamination of any other food, it is extremely important to catch any high-risk or incompatible products early. ERP systems with built-in systems to identify, store, label, and provide automated procedures for hazardous materials can help. With the ability to receive instant alerts anytime a particular standard is not met, you can take corrective action immediately. This ensures that your customers always receive high quality meat products.

Simplify Reporting with All Your Data in One Platform

Regulatory organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) require meat processors to meet stringent reporting requirements on their products. Having all your quality data easily accessible in one single-source-of-truth simplifies the reporting process. ERP systems allow you to view information for every single product, throughout the entire production process in real-time. Having a complete set of data for each specific lot number mean meat processors can easily audit quality checks beginning from raw ingredients all the way to final product. Automated reporting also reduces the amount of time spent on manual data entry and consolidation and eliminates human error.

Conclusion

Meat processors have a responsibility to consumers to provide high quality products that are both delicious and safe for consumption. An ERP system that provides robust quality control modules and total visibility gives meat processors the tools they need to maintain quality standards, while saving time and money!