Plant Design/Management

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Brett Erickson, director of Value-added Products at Certified Angus Beef LLC, talks about the efficiencies and flexibilities automation technology such as robotics allows processors.

Why is it that, despite the best efforts of management teams, the vast majority of spare parts inventories remain bloated with excess, surplus and obsolete items yet don’t provide the level of service expected by users?

The pandemic had a profound impact on our food spending, and we have seen a dramatic increase in dining at home. An influx of new shoppers in the grocery stores are making their food, especially lunches, at home, and they seek flavorful deli meat choices that are convenient, healthy and, above all, safe.

Keeping meat and poultry fresh and safe during its journey from the ranch to the plate is often an intricate undertaking for processors. And few variables are as important for sustaining product quality as leveraging appropriate freezing and chilling technologies.

Already a major element in efficient meat processing, process control software is increasingly important on ranches and farms.

Though frontline jobs on the packing or processing floor are often assumed to be devoid of technology such as email or instant messaging, “deskless” shouldn’t mean disconnected. 

Managing conveyors and belting in meat and poultry plants can be a complicated business. 

Many meat and poultry processors, trimming and deboning equipment manufacturers and universities continue to pursue automation and robotics for the trimming and deboning process.