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Empowered consumers, consumer bodies and increased regulatory pressure are driving the move to a much more tightly controlled industry.  Even with all of the regulations, it is inevitable that sooner or later there will be some type of food incident requiring removal of that product.  One of the key requirements is a full traceability system. Without an ERP system, a full product recall will be impossible to achieve in the expected timelines.

The food and beverage industry, much like any other industry, is filled with challenges: maintaining a reliable and high performing labor force, machinery uptime, shipping deadlines, bringing in enough sales, cash flow, packaging and so much more.

If you are a food manufacturer, you have probably pondered this critical question more than once: “Do I have the necessary infrastructure in place to ensure I am able to seize new opportunities and grow at a successful rate?”

These days, food and beverage companies are facing tougher challenges than ever before. The food industry has become increasingly complex for manufacturers to navigate and remain compliant. In the highly competitive food marketplace, the demands can soon start to outgrow your business and suddenly you’re slapping on Band-Aids without a passing thought for the implications on long-term growth.

One of the ways that manufacturers can be classified is as discrete or process; this describes the type of manufacturing processes involved (there is a third type, mixed mode, which combines both). Your typical small- or medium-sized manufacturer has better things to do than care about whether they are process or discrete. However these distinctions are really quite useful when choosing an ERP system. Knowing the differences will help you understand the types of challenges your ERP system will need to address.

As population numbers continue to rise and pressure continues to mount for global food production, the world is looking to Africa to step up to the challenge.

While many may simply assume that a shift to industrial farming methods is the answer for increasing production, the inevitable resulting environmental degradation where such methods are used suggests that this is not the best way forward for a sustainable future.