Manufacturing News

Product variation? Think outside the process cell

Product variation? Think outside the process cell

Food processors who use a project management approach to improve operations may sometimes find themselves a step behind, according to a Bridgewater, New Jersey-based process management company.

The modeling tool from Thinkage shows how processors can increase product conformity by making changes throughout an entire, linked production network rather than in just one cell. Source: Thinkage.

"Improvement projects only deliver value if the entire process, and not just one cell, is united. When changes or improvements are made, each should be made simultaneously, on each cell in the process," said Mark Grace, president of Thinkage. The company's Think Gates™ service enables processors to monitor and control the state of their food product as it moves from one processing cell to another.

A new modeling tool from Thinkage shows food processors how the Think Gates service manages product variations from cell to cell to produce 30 percent more product within the customer's specifications. A snapshot from a five-cell model, depicted at left, shows the impact that changing one or more parameters has on a typical food product that's marinated, breaded twice, fried and frozen.

"If you make an investment in Cell Two, which reduces variation, but Cell One or Three remains the same, you may lose all the value you created in Cell Two," Grace said.

For more information about the service, contact Thinkage at (908) 253-9550 ext 298.

Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to Food Engineering Magazine.

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Multimedia

Videos

Image Galleries

Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference and Expo 2013

Images from Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference and Expo in Naples, Florida, April 14-17, 2013.

Podcasts

The Food Defense Strategy Exchange (FDSE) is a forum for food defense professionals to interact and share their knowledge and experiences. At the most recent FDSE, a poll of attendees revealed that approximately two-thirds were either re-evaluating their existing food defense plan, or implementing new food defense plans. In this podcast, Don Hsieh, Director of Commercial and Industrial Marketing at Tyco Integrated Security, discusses this topic and other findings from the exchange, and offers some best practices to proactively protect a company’s brand from food adulteration.

More Podcasts

Alternative Energy Systems

Has your operation designed/built any systems for alternative energy or recovering energy/water? What systems?
View Results Poll Archive

THE MAGAZINE

Food Engineering Magazine

FE 2013 June

2013 June

Check out Food Engineering’s June 2013 issue, featuring the results of the 36th Annual Plant Construction Survey

Table Of Contents Subscribe

THE FOOD ENGINEERING STORE

Food-Authentication-Flyer-(.gif
Food Authentication Using Bioorganic Molecules

This text provides critical tools and data needed to augment routine food analysis and enhance food safety by aiding in the detection of counterfeit, and potentially deleterious, foods.

More Products

Clear Seas Research

Clear Seas ResearchWith access to over one million professionals and more than 60 industry-specific publications,Clear Seas Research offers relevant insights from those who know your industry best. Let us customize a market research solution that exceeds your marketing goals.

Food Master

Food MasterFood Master 2013 is now available!

Where the buying process begins in the food and beverage manufacturing market. 

Visit www.foodmaster.com to learn more.

STAY CONNECTED

facebook_40.pngtwitter_40px.pngyoutube_40px.pnglinkedin_40px.png