Enterprise Solution Guidelines for Food Manufacturers

Food Manufacturers Guidelines

Enterprise Solution Guidelines for Food Manufacturers

Food manufacturers can sometimes face obstacles in their daily operations, such as increasing costs, safety concerns, government regulations, and low margin costs.  An ERP software solution can help companies meet these regulations and overcome challenging business issues. Many companies however, may be uncertain of how ERP software can work for their unique business. It’s helpful to understand what your business wants to get out of an ERP solution and have clearly defined goals up front, as well as know how an ERP solution will help you achieve those goals once implemented. For food manufacturers, choosing the right ERP solution for your business means choosing software that will help you improve food safety and streamline operational efficiency, while managing your business growth.

Here are two components to consider when evaluating an ERP solution for your business.

Does the ERP System Support Food Safety Recall Protocols?

Food safety recalls are not predictable. We are moving into a period in which food enterprises must evaluate their existing systems and processes to ensure that they directly address the complex and intensified documentation requirements of the FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act). An ERP system should be designed with technology and tools to help businesses avoid contaminating ingredients into the supply chain from the very beginning. With features such as automated data collection that eliminates the need for keying data, companies can reduce data entry and the time it takes to track all ingredients used in production. A good recall response requires the right mix of business tools processes, and employee training. End-to-end ERP solutions and recall management systems can make it easier for employees to do their jobs more quickly and accurately.

Is the ERP System Compliant?

Maintaining compliance is vital to sustaining a successful food or beverage business. Failure to follow regulations can result in consequences that can lead to financial loss and operational downtime. To avoid these costs, it is crucial to address all provisions of the regulations governing food and beverage processing and distribution. According to The FDA (The Food and Drug Administration), all food and beverage manufacturers and distributers are required to meet an extensive compliance list. Therefore, in order to mitigate the risk of failure to fulfill regulations, all of the necessary data regarding each package must be actively monitored and examined. Manual cross-checking is time-consuming and increases the risk of human error with each inspection. Enterprise solutions provide functionality for lot traceability to maintain more accurate and up-to-date reporting of inventory status. This visibility enables you to track down packages easily in the event of a potential contamination and to issue a quicker recall to those products. Real-time manufacturing data allows for a more streamlined compliance monitoring process at all points of distribution.

Today’s food and beverage manufacturers are facing tougher challenges more than ever before. Feeding an ever-expanding population and increased food recalls have led to the demand for better record-keeping and visibility within the global food supply chain. Companies today must balance a profitable business operation with government safety regulations and compliance. Choosing an food ERP software solution that’s meets these needs and is right for your business will help the enterprise run smoothly and efficiently, while ensuring your company’s success. 

Joe Scioscia

Vice President of Sales

Comments