The Power of Cloud ERP on the Food Processing Plant Floor

The Power of Cloud ERP on the Food Processing Plant Floor At a Glance: ‹‹ This paper highlights the value of using a single-source cloud ERP system ...
Author: Dwain Powell
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The Power of Cloud ERP on the Food Processing Plant Floor

At a Glance: ‹‹

This paper highlights the value of using a single-source cloud ERP system on the food processing plant floor.

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A comprehensive ERP solution offers food processors/manufacturers a clear view of what is happening on the plant floor so they can track complete genealogies.

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Real-time data and flexible barcode functions enable efficiencies and productivity improvements.

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The Power of Cloud ERP on the Processing Plant Floor Today’s food processors/manufacturers gain a key competitive advantage by implementing an ERP system that enables strong plant floor management. While many ERP software companies claim to support food processors, they do little more than accounting, order entry and other office tasks. They are not suitable for use on the plant floor, they provide little value to the steps involved in manufacturing, processing or packaging and they do little to support processors in complying with food safety mandates. Many processors/ manufacturers indicate that traditional ERP software actually hinders their plant floor activities rather than helping them. The key is to implement a solution that includes process instructions, recipe management, traceability and product genealogy, production scheduling, realtime ingredient control, production tracking, lot control, labor tracking and more. “Intuitive touch screens give employees access to everything they need to do their jobs more efficiently.”

Value of ERP on the Plant Floor A comprehensive ERP system supports a food processor’s plant floor activities in the following ways: ‹‹

Easy-to-use screens efficiently track all processing steps.

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Complete plant floor visibility enables complete genealogies.

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Real-time, complete product data improves plant floor productivity.

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Barcode labeling creates processing efficiencies.

Employee Productivity Easy-to-use panels, logs and screens are available for employees right in their work areas on the plant floor. Intuitive touch screens give them access to everything they need to do their jobs more efficiently. The control panels and process area logs provided by the Plex Manufacturing Cloud, an ERP solution for food processors/manufacturers, are just a few examples. PLEX.COM | 855.534.8012

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Control panels provide a simple-to-use, yet powerful user interface for plant floor personnel to track and control process activities, labor hours, production, inventory and much more.

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Process area logs provide detailed histories of all events that occur during process set-up, including all production, maintenance and downtime. Users can access the logs to pull reports on uptime, availability and machine efficiency.

Production Visibility Control panels, process area logs, and many other plant floor tools are integrated with production tracking, inventory, labor tracking and hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) plans to enable complete visibility across all processing steps. Users can better manage quality, scheduling and intermediate inventory by tracking individual containers or individual items as they flow through their processing steps. Best-in-class ERP solutions provide a complete genealogy of all inventory, including one-up and one-back traceability. This is ideal for identifying and isolating any issues in the case of an audit or recall.

Comprehensive Data Management A robust ERP solution like the Plex Manufacturing Cloud maintains all of the data necessary to begin production of food products. For example, the system contains all ingredient lists, recipes and formulations needed for each finished food product. ‹‹

Ingredient lists – Robust plant floor tracking includes a master list of ingredients with all associated data such as food product descriptions, ingredient types and recipe revisions. The item list automatically links with many other functions and areas within the ERP system such as key item dates, customer item numbers, inventory, shipment history, customer problem histories and more.

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Recipes – A thorough recipe includes each process step, process name, approved process areas and suppliers, weights, container types and related data.

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Formulations – Each process has a distinct formulation which defines the ingredients that make up an item. A flexible function offers methods for visualizing and editing formulations.

“Leading cloud ERP solutions bring advanced technology to help food processors maximize productivity on the plant floor.” In their daily work, plant floor personnel access various trackers that help them improve the speed and quality of processing steps, including set-ups and cleanups. Here are a few examples: ‹‹

Production and work order trackers – Plant floor personnel use production trackers and work order trackers to retrieve instructions, track activities and record production against processing requests – all in real time.

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Set-up and clean-up trackers – The set-up/clean-up tracker function records process area set-up times and issues, including detailed data on reasons for set-up delays. This helps employees shorten set-up times and improve setup consistency.

Barcoding Breeds Efficiencies Leading cloud ERP solutions bring advanced technology to help food processors/manufacturers maximize productivity on the plant floor. Plex Cloud ERP, for example, provides integrated barcode printing and reading capabilities to streamline inventory/ingredient tracking, shipping, recipe management, labor hours tracking and more. This built-in barcoding functionality supports any format or symbology needed by individual customers. Users are able to meet GS1 barcode and data standards, and supply-chain partners can share product information. Plex can create barcode labels based on a variety of GS1 barcode standards and facilitate the communication of GS1 data, through EDI, to a variety of trading partners. The Plex Cloud ERP solution is flexible and can be customized to address particular processors’ issues. For example, it can add allergen symbols on the barcodes of potentially life-threatening products and raw materials. This visual PLEX.COM | 855.534.8012

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cue helps food processors ensure the safety of their plant floor personnel.

Single-Source Solution Improving productivity and streamlining processing steps on the plant floor are key elements in meeting the competitive pressures and rigorous mandates in today’s food processing industry. Processors need a single-source ERP solution that supports these efforts. A cloud ERP system like the Plex Manufacturing Cloud provides complete production visibility, real-time accurate data, barcoding functionality and more – all designed to meet the unique needs of the processing environment. Rather than impeding plant floor activities, as do many traditional systems, the solution drives improvements that give its users a competitive advantage.

PLEX.COM | 855.534.8012 About Plex Plex is the Manufacturing Cloud, delivering industry-leading ERP and manufacturing automation to nearly 400 companies across industries including aerospace and defense, food and beverage and motor vehicles. Plex pioneered Cloud solutions for the plant floor, connecting suppliers, machines, people, systems and customers with capabilities that are easy to configure, deliver continuous innovation, and reduce IT costs. With insight that starts on the production line, Plex helps companies see and understand every aspect of their business ecosystem, enabling them to lead in an ever-changing market.

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