Packaged Food

For several years food companies have worked furiously to comply with the FDA's record-keeping and lot-tracking requirements as described in Section 306 of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002. By the end of 2006, all food manufacturers were required to have the capability to rapidly identify and track every single ingredient, from receipt through processing, packaging, and shipping, to the exact customer location.

Integrated software for food manufacturers can effortlessly track lot properties while optimizing and improving other business processes such as:

  • Batch production
  • Sales functions
  • Inventory control
  • Purchasing
  • Quality assurance
  • Accounting and financials
  • Regulatory reporting
The basis for the FDA regulations is straightforward: companies must be able to show where the food components/ingredients are at any given moment, where they have been, and how they got there - and they must prove that there are controls in place so that the process repeats. If properly done, these controls allow food companies to operate more efficiently, predictably and most importantly, more profitably.

Implementing a comprehensive manufacturing system for a food company will not only meet the traceability requirements of Section 306, but also seamlessly link all departments within the company, resulting in streamlined operations, maximized productivity, and increased profitability. These systems must provide the ability to track every ingredient from receipt through finished product delivery, and must be adaptable to a company's unique manufacturing process - the "farm to fork" capability that is sometimes known as epedigree, product genealogy, or product traceability.

Plexus Online provides a turnkey solution for food companies and suppliers, and offers the flexibility to provide point solutions for specific needs at companies who already have established internal systems and processes.