Call for excellence and innovation

For most of us as summer comes to a close, it’s time to get back to the business of running food plants after a few weeks off to relax. As you get back to work, I would like to remind you that now is the time to consider entering your innovative plant projects into Food Engineering’s annual Plant of the Year award competition. Any new food or beverage plant project or major retrofit completed in 2008 is eligible for the 2009 award. Following are some of the judging criteria:

Contribution to the company’s long-term business plans/strategies

Innovation in processing, packaging and post-production material handling

Productive integration of workers into the overall plan

On-time/on-budget performance

Sustainability initiatives

Food safety innovation

State-of-the-art automation and software technologies

Flexible manufacturing

Supply chain management.

In support of your entry, a 10-page detailed narrative, stating how your plant excels with reference to the judging criteria, is required. Please note: Products made must be finished consumer goods. Entries are due by December 1, 2008. For a complete list of requirements and information on entry preparation, please visit www.foodengineeringmag.com. and click on Plant of the Year Entry Form.

The 27th annual Food Plant of the Year award will be presented on April 28, 2009 at Food Engineering’s Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference and Expo, scheduled for April 26-29 at the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Sarasota, FL.

In today’s competitive environment, processors are continuing to achieve manufacturing excellence, and we’d like to hear about your latest successes. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions concerning the Plant of the Year award.

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Joyce Fassl has spent most of her career in magazine management. As the former editor-in-chief of Food Engineering, Fassl has directed the magazine’s editorial staff since 1986, except for a two-year stretch where she oversaw content direction for the debut of Packexpo.com. Her expertise is creating dynamic print and online content, building top-notch editorial teams and managing innovative custom publishing projects and live events. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State University. In addition to supervising all Food Engineering content, Joyce is Program Director for the Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference.