Proactive Quality Assurance Supported By ERP In The Food And Beverage Industry

By Bill Leedale, IFS

Being able to provide product and lot traceability has become a critical requirement in the food & beverage industry. Food safety regulations mandate that companies have in place quality control plans and documented procedures, while customers may demand that lot traceability be demonstrated to as part of a supplier audit, to ensure recalls can be managed effectively.

In effect, for both regulatory and customer compliance reasons, lot-control and traceability have become table stakes in the food & beverage industry. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and quality management, preferably integrated, are necessary solutions. However, the best practice approach goes beyond being able to perform lot-level traceability, or even to be able to do it quickly.