Wayne Labs

Wayne Labs has more than 30 years of editorial experience in industrial automation. He served as senior technical editor for I&CS/Control Solutions magazine for 18 years where he covered software, control system hardware and sensors/transmitters. Labs ran his own consulting business and contributed feature articles to Electronic Design, Control, Control Design, Industrial Networking and Food Engineering magazines. Before joining Food Engineering, he served as a senior technical editor for Omega Engineering Inc. Labs also worked in wireless systems and served as a field engineer for GE’s Mobile Communications Division and as a systems engineer for Bucks County Emergency Services. In addition to writing technical feature articles, Wayne covers FE’s Engineering R&D section.

Senior Contributing Technical Editor

State of Food Manufacturing

The state of food manufacturing: The need for speed

A focus on lean manufacturing, quality improvements and increased automation helps processors meet rapidly changing demands.

Wayne Labs

September 4, 2014

One glance at this year’s Food Engineering State of Manufacturing survey indicates, that for the most part, food and beverage processors are facing a lot of issues—many the same as last year.

Engineering R&D

The fantastic voyage of a temperature probe

Best way to measure the internal process temperature of a cooking stage: Send an RFID probe through the process piping!

Wayne Labs

September 4, 2014

Measuring the internal temperature or the doneness of any product as it travels through a continuous cooking system is not an easy task.

Dairy Processing

Tech update: Dairy processing

Wayne Labs

September 4, 2014

In the US, fluid milk sales are flat, but Greek yogurt and other specialty markets are hot, which means a processor’s survival will depend upon having the right automation tools.

Engineering R&D

In-shift pathogen test reduces time to market

Based on novel technology, a recent approach to pathogen testing eliminates the enrichment phase of assays, which means getting results before a shift is over.

Wayne Labs

August 7, 2014

Listeria—it’s seems like it’s everywhere.

Food Safety

GMPs, FSMA and GFSI: Making the Right Connections

Good manufacturing practices play an obvious role in both FSMA and GFSI schemes, but in reality, you won’t pass FSMA muster or obtain a GFSI certification if you haven’t done your GMP homework.

Wayne Labs

August 7, 2014

As FDA regulations spell out in 21 CFR Part 110, good manufacturing practices (GMPs) or current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) are the basics you need to know and perform to keep the food products you make free of adulteration—whether from bacteria or chemicals.

TECH FLASH

The ABCs of GFSI

With FSMA heading towards finalization, GFSI accreditation goes a long way in securing a successful FSMA audit and getting a leg up on competitors

Wayne Labs

June 25, 2014

With GFSI certification, processors win in two ways: food safety and quality management.

Plant Construction

37th Annual Plant Construction Survey: Hygienic design for safe food

Wayne Labs

June 9, 2014

As FSMA gels, processors are concerned about safe food and plants while stepping up product output with the same energy inputs.

Food safety management systems

The right tools enable long-term success

Wayne Labs

June 9, 2014

HACCP can’t do it all. A food safety management system uses several tools to promote food safety and prevent recalls. After a recall, it may be too late to save your business.

Manufacturing News

Cheap energy—but for how long?

Wayne Labs

June 9, 2014

The lower price of natural gas has unfortunately caused some users to take short-term views of energy prices.

Engineering R&D

A grain of sand, a whole lot of track and trace

Wayne Labs

June 4, 2014

Microscopic tags made of silicon dioxide (silica) can be mixed with many foods and liquids not only to trace the origin of contaminated meat, but also track and find potential fraudsters.