Wellington County author Judith Kirkness recently released a book for food manufacturers entitled The Traceability Factor.
This paperback helps food processors understand how technology can be used to capture traceability information and how that information can be used to help them become more profitable.
The book is available in printed in printed version from the website www.thetraceabilityfactor.com for $20 or in electronic version for under $10 from Amazon and Kobo.
The Traceability Factor is a practical guide explaining concepts like GS1 barcode labels, RFID tags, ERP software programs and what scanning can and can’t do for a business.
Separate chapters detail five key business benefits, beyond recall, that processors can expect to achieve through adopting traceability technology, including more accurate product costing, linking food safety results and allergen information with each lot of product, prevention of food fraud and theft through serialization, time savings and improved accuracy through scanning and profitability reporting.
She explores what’s needed to make a technology project successful including how to introduce technology to staff who are used to paper systems.
The topic of traceability technology is particularly relevant as businesses race to stay competitive in a global market as trade barriers continue to come down.
The Ontario government OMAF grant programs like Growing Forward 2 and the Local Food Fund help producers and processors fund new traceability technology investments.
Stronger assurance systems help businesses be ready for unannounced mock recall audits and in the event of actual recalls so they can pull any suspect food quickly from the shelves. It also helps foster the goal of tracking products from farm to fork.
This book, written from a Canadian perspective, aims to help our food processors stay competitive.
Judith Kirkness has an MBA from Queen’s University and earned her practical skills helping clients successfully bring together their plant floor and warehouse information.
Her technological understanding has been acquired from over 20 years’ experience as a principal consultant in her family business Minotaur Software.
As a speaker and educator, Kirkness demystifies traceability. She is the founder of Traceability Matters and enjoys sharing knowledge and experience offering ideas to help businesses become more profitable.
