All your questions answered by Hans Hermus, Product Manager BESTMIX
Quality assurance in the pet food industry is not that different from that in the human food industry. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the claims and labels on pet food cans. As a cat owner, I know this very well as I constantly examine the labels on the cans myself. Quality assurance was once seen as a cost but is now considered necessary for maintaining a company's reputation. It ensures the physical quality of the product, but it can also lead to cost savings and increased sales. There are several quality assurance tasks in the pet food industry, including:
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Quality checking (lab)
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Quality control (processes)
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Quality assurance (audits etc.)
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Validation and verification (specifications, approval)
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Document management (certificates etc)
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Management, awareness, training, etc.
Although these tasks may seem separate, they are actually interdependent. Quality checking cannot be carried out without correct specifications and reference values that are accurate and consistent across all aspects of the product, from recipe to finished product. Good document management is essential for quality assurance. However, simply taking periodic samples and checking them in the lab is not enough. True quality assurance requires an integrated approach that involves all levels of the company being aware and engaged.
What are the main challenges the pet food industry is facing?
Consumers consider their pets as family members and demand transparency, leading to a growing need for information. The volume of data has become so significant that managing it in Excel or on paper is no longer viable. Finding skilled and educated professionals is difficult, and open positions can remain unfilled for extended periods. Therefore, it is crucial to retain talented employees. Additionally, supply chain reliability is a well-known issue, and while it may not be a direct quality assurance problem, organized quality assurance can indirectly support purchasing by providing alternative options and redundancy. Furthermore, increasing costs and inflation are putting pressure on margins, making cost-cutting crucial.
What are some possible solutions to these challenges?
We may be biased, but we believe software is the optimal way to address these issues. Let's explore how we can tackle multiple challenges simultaneously (assuming the phrase "kill several birds with one stone" is appropriate for this audience of pet food professionals).
How to obtain greater transparency towards petfood owners while staying in control of your quality processes?
To achieve greater transparency towards petfood owners while maintaining control of quality processes, it is important to efficiently store and organize data in a consistent manner throughout the entire process. This begins with managing product specifications of incoming ingredients in a constant process rather than checking them on an ad hoc basis. The use of automated document management can help secure risks and proof of claims through certificates, questionnaires, and other documents. By meeting the demand for more transparency, businesses can stay more in control of their quality process and worry less about quality assurance during upcoming audits.
Automated machines in laboratories can transmit data to other software that analyzes and evaluates the information collected from various machines based on certain criteria. Determining the allowable upper and lower limits can be complex because many factors come into play. Such software can be configured to consider these factors, and data from ERP systems and potential new raw materials can serve as important bases for analysis. Conducting analyses of samples from potential suppliers is an important aspect of quality control.
How to deal with labor shortages in petfood production?
The examples mentioned above, such as data management and data flows, demonstrate how software can take over certain processes. This can relieve you from the burden of worrying about obtaining the right data and allow you to focus on the actual content. With automation, significant portions of the quality manual can be taken care of, and tasks can be distributed between both trained and untrained personnel. This can make work more engaging and fulfilling, and in turn, can help address labor shortages in the petfood production industry.
How can software help in case of unreliable supply chains?
Software can be helpful in addressing issues related to unreliable supply chains. One example is the use of software to map the countries of origin for ingredients. This allows for a quick assessment of the potential geopolitical risks associated with each country. Furthermore, the simplified onboarding process for new suppliers frees up resources to focus on finding alternative suppliers or establishing redundancy in the supply chain.
What else can software do to support my petfood production business?
Increased efficiency through software not only saves costs but also protects your company from making costly mistakes and reputational damage due to recalls. Additionally, software can process large amounts of data quickly, allowing for real-time quality control and adjustments to production processes to minimize costs. This includes taking into account factors such as the shape of silos and inventories.
Let’s get practical. Where and how can I get more information? And a free business assessment?
Let's get practical now. If you are looking for more specific information and a free business assessment, you can check out BESTMIX® Software. We offer a range of solutions for the food, feed and pet food industry, including Recipe Management and ERP solutions. Currently, we are emphasizing our BESTMIX® SpecTrack and BESTMIX® Quality Control modules.
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For more details on software solutions for the petfood industry or to request a free business assessment, you can visit our website at
https://www.adifo.com/en/industries/petfood
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Participate in our upcoming webinar on: Quality Assurance in the Pet Food Industry: Turn challenges into opportunities (25 May): https://www.adifo.com/en/events/webinar-quality-assurance-pet-food-industry-turn-challenges-benefits-software-solutions
Feel free to get in touch with me for an informal chat or a free demo of our solutions.
Hans Hermus
Product Manager BESTMIX
Will you want to learn more from BESTMIX experts?
Hans, Colton, and Lenny, Nutrition experts at BESTMIX, will present a webinar on "Quality Assurance in the Pet Food Industry: turn Challenges into Benefits with Software Solutions." on May 25th.In this webinar, these experts will cover several key topics to help businesses improve their quality assurance processes and stay competitive in the market. This webinar is a must-attend event for anyone in the pet food industry looking to improve their quality assurance processes and stay competitive in the market. By using software solutions to optimize their processes, businesses can turn challenges into benefits and achieve long-term success.
Register now to secure your spot and learn from one of the best in the business.
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