Iso 22000 Addressed in International Food Safety & Quality Network

Manufacturing journalist Thomas R. Cutler profiled the Technology Issues and ISO 22000/HACCP for the IFSQN, International Food Safety Quality Network.
The full feature can be read at http://www.ifsqn.com/articles_detail.php?newsdesk_id=249&t=Bottom-Line+Benefits+of+ISO+22000

According to Rebecca Gill, vice-president of Technology Group International, "Tracking domestic or worldwide food manufacturing and distribution is a daunting endeavor. To be able to manage these requirements effectively, an organization needs a structured and controlled operational environment in place and active. Managing such important procedures via paper and personal intervention is not only less than effective, it is highly dangerous. To truly comply with international food safety standards, an organization needs the assistance of an enterprise wide system to help control the operational environment and properly track the entire supply chain."

From spinach to a myriad of other food products contamination continues to be a significant issue according to Gill that can only be addressed through technology that holds the process and people accountable. "Recently in the US, we have seen the horrific affects of tainted food products reaching our consumers. Some have died and many have become ill due to e coli in the food chain. Not only did this situation take FDA intervention to help minimize future fatalities, it took days to locate the source of this outbreak. Successfully deploying an ERP system and the associated operational controls it offers will not only offer better controls to foster limited exposure of contaminated products, it drastically speeds the process of damage control by swiftly facilitating a recall of the contaminated product across the supply chain. Attempting to manage this via a paper method is not only labor intensive, it wastes valuable time in controlling the negative effects in the marketplace."

Benefits of ISO 22000 Compliance:

Reduced cost of sales

ISO 22000 compliance immediately establishes a food company's credibility and commitment to safety. Demonstrating the effectiveness of a safety management system is straightforward and takes less time to earn customers' trust.

Lower risk of liability

The entire food chain suffers from consumers' exposure to hazards. Implementing ISO 22000, food companies take responsibility for consumer safety and lower the risk of insurance payments and legal costs.

Improved overall performance

A lean quality management system promotes continuous improvement in food products and processes, creating fewer errors, returns, and customer complaints. This generates improved relationships with suppliers and customers, providing a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Technology Group International is a proven technology leader delivering Tier 1 application software functionality at a price performance level that can be readily accepted by organizations of all sizes. Specializing in software solutions for small and mid-market manufacturing and distribution companies, TGI's integrated Enterprise Series software suite is a complete business process management solution. The product offering includes Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Warehouse Management System (WMS), Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS), Decision Support System (DSS), Business Intelligence (BI), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and eCommerce. TGI implements, maintains, enhances, and supports its packaged distribution and manufacturing software solutions directly and via its channel partners.