Data driven food safety analytics as an enabler for food safety culture.
While the industry continues to innovate, modernize, and tackle the disruptions of raw materials scarcity at the same time, the challenge of the food industry remains the maintenance of food safety as a high priority on the agenda. To keep the finger on the pulse, continuously evaluating and monitoring your food safety program to ensure that the highest level of food safety is met, is essential. However, it all starts with defining and measuring the right food safety metrics and building a transparent dashboard. Through rigorous monitoring of these vital food safety parameters with the use of analytics, you can identify potential issues and implement a food safety culture.
A dashboard that tells you your food safety story.
HACCP monitoring data are only as good as the system that manages them. Data loses most of its value if it’s not organized into clear, comprehensive and easily understandable dashboards. A Digital Food Safety (DFS) application simplifies record keeping and retrieval processes by enabling completely paperless data collection and reporting. Connecting the DFS system with HACCP monitoring instruments like manual thermometers for example virtually eliminates manual data collection as well as the enormous potential for human error that manual work creates.
All records stored within the DFS can be searched and organized according to many variables making both internal and external audits much easier.
The heart of a DFS platform is the dashboard. A value added dashboard is one that is clear, interactive, and user-friendly. The trick is to communicate information at a glance through efficient data visualizations that will enable users to extract actionable insights, identify trends and patterns.
All evidence at your fingertips: making non-conformities visible
A food safety error response time is often the difference between a controlled food safety incident and one that spirals out of control. A DFS system can significantly reduce a facility’s response time by giving off a signal when a measurement is out of spec or making a ‘non-conformity’ immediately visible to the operational manager.
When an incident occurs, the DFS system can provide the appropriate corrective action steps that walk staff through the necessary tasks to resolve the problem. Once the incident has been fully resolved, detailed corrective action reports are stored within the DFS platform for review by the internal quality team as well as external parties like inspection bodies or local authorities.
Making complex food safety data transparent not only provides trust with organizations but it’s also a great facilitator to ensure a genuine food safety culture, making each individual accountable for their tasks and actions. Take the crisis out of crisis management when you have all the evidence at your fingertip!
Conclusion
Science-based and data-driven decision-making with the use of food safety analytics, allows you to develop a robust Food Safety Management program that can uplift your Food Safety Culture.
A solid food safety data management system can be the catalyst that transforms food safety procedures from burdens into a tool that creates awareness to your staff, adds transparency into their tasks and avoids time-consuming and least value-added work.
By tackling non-compliances immediately and adding simplification and transparency with easy-to-use data collection tools, you can embed a true safety culture into your organization.