Outsourced production has always been part of the food industry, but the complexity of today's relationships goes far beyond simple low-cost computations.
Just as production practices have been modified to deliver greater food safety, worker safety concerns are prompting food manufacturers to reexamine standard operating procedures.
Marine propulsion technology has been adapted to handle pumpable foods, and the developers are rolling it out to processors on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Networked systems, remote diagnostics and processing-floor visibility offer great benefits, but the enabling technology can be a gateway for prying eyes and malicious intent.