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Though it can appear harmless and be overlooked entirely, combustible dust is extremely dangerous in food processing facilities. Any solid material composed of distinct particles can present a fire hazard according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
Continue Reading “How to Prevent and Mitigate Combustible Dust Explosions in Food Plants”
In last week’s post, I introduced you to the behavior-based approach to worker safety. While ergonomic design and regulatory compliance remain critical to worker safety, behavior-based safety strategies incentivize employees to take ownership of their own safety. Employees proactively identify potential hazards, helping prevent them from ever happening in the first place.
Below, I outline in more detail three reasons you should integrate a behavior-based approach into your food plant’s worker safety practices.
Continue Reading “Three Reasons to Consider a Behavior-based Approach to Worker Safety”
Worker safety is a critical element in every food plant, regardless of the type of products manufactured. And while creating a safe, ergonomic work environment is a must, sometimes it’s not enough to ensure the safety of your most important asset—your employees.
In a recent Food Engineering article on ergonomic practices, I discussed how a behavior-based approach can enhance your plant’s worker safety. With behavior-based safety training, workers are incentivized to proactively look for potential hazards, creating a safety-oriented workforce.
Continue Reading “How a Behavior-based Approach Can Enhance Your Worker Safety Culture”
At this time of year, many food processors are planning next year’s capital expenditures, which often means piecing together budgets for upcoming food plant construction projects. It is important to create the most accurate budget possible: a tricky task. Frequently, food processors prepare budgets without the assistance of an experienced design-builder. By doing so, they make assumptions that can skew their entire budget.
Continue Reading “5 Details to Give Your Design-Builder for a More Accurate Food Project Budget”
A manufacturing plan is a key piece of your food business’ overall strategic plan. Your manufacturing plan is a clear set of actions driven by gaps and discoveries from your manufacturing analysis, or the analysis of your business’ manufacturing processes.
Continue Reading “[Infographic] 4 Steps in Developing a Manufacturing Plan”
A manufacturing analysis is the portion of a strategic plan that focuses on all the processes and materials related to manufacturing. A situation analysis is a major focus of the manufacturing analysis, serving as an in-depth look at the physical layout of the facility. The goal of situation analysis is to ensure that the technology and strategy you plan to implement are feasible in the physical space of your facility.
Continue Reading “6 Elements of a Thorough Situation Analysis”
Today, our team is settling back into the office after exhibiting at PACK EXPO in Las Vegas. While packaging is fresh on our minds, let’s examine some fascinating packaging research released by The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI) earlier this week. Continue Reading “Packaging Trends: Key Findings from The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies Research”
At the close of 2014, data released by the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses showed that the total capacity of refrigerated warehouses has increased 20 percent since 2012. And over the past few months, trade magazines have been honing in on the topic, tapping into our team members at Stellar for insights into cold storage construction, including rising technologies, efficiencies and best practices. Continue Reading “[Infographic] Factors That Influence Cold Storage Warehouse Cost Savings”
Following several years of FDA outreach and industry input, the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Preventive Controls for Human Food rule is now officially final. The rule implements elements from the original proposal in 2013 as well as supplemental proposals since then. Several things have changed as a result. Continue Reading “FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule Now Final: What You Need to Know”
Food safety should always be a shared responsibility for your food processing plant. Whether you’re planning the hygienic design of a new or existing facility, schedule a collaborative planning session. Invite your engineering and construction professionals along with individuals from multiple departments to answer key questions that will drive the sanitary design of your plant.
Continue Reading “5 Key Questions to Answer During Hygienic Food Plant Design”
![[Infographic] 4 Steps in Developing a Manufacturing Plan](https://stellarfoodforthought.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/4-steps-in-developing-a-manufacturing-plan.jpg)
![[Infographic] Factors That Influence Cold Storage Warehouse Cost Savings](https://stellarfoodforthought.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Infographic-Factors-That-Influence-Cold-Storage-Warehouse-Cost-Savings.png)
