Food Manufacturing Industry Research Articles

Performance analysis and clustering of Italian SA8000-certified food and beverages companies

PurposeThis work aims at discovering the multifaceted business performance of SA8000-certified companies operating in the Italian food and beverages manufacturing industry.Design/methodology/approachA clustering based on a principal component analysis considering 20 profitability, productivity and value-added distribution ratios was carried out on a sample of 105 Italian SA8000-certified food and beverages manufacturing companies.FindingsTwo clusters (CL1 and CL2) emerged from the statistical analysis, where CL1 represents 85.71% of the sample. Despite their general and some labour-related features being similar, they show very different performances. While CL2 performs better both within the food and beverage manufacturing industry than CL1, the latter performs similarly to industry, although even lower. Labour productivity pushes the gap between the clusters mostly through sales (generating revenues) and production (in the aspect of generating personnel costs). These findings suggest that a nonunique performance profile of firms SA8000 certified exists and that low performances do not prevent certification.Originality/valueBy focusing on SA8000 standard in the food and beverage sector, the study contributes to the research field by investigating the relationships between corporate social responsibility and firm performance in an important industrial sector for the Italian economy.

Uncovering Readiness Factors Influencing the Lean Six Sigma Pre-Implementation Phase in the Food Industry

The aim of this study is to identify the readiness factors of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) for the food manufacturing industry. A multi-method qualitative approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve quality practitioners and three case food companies to identify and explore the LSS readiness factors in the food manufacturing industry. Twenty-eight factors were identified and classified into six LSS readiness factors (RF) in the food manufacturing industry context, namely, management support and leadership, organisational culture readiness, process management, project management, employee involvement, and external relations. This study could benefit managers in the food business as a diagnostic tool to evaluate their readiness to implement LSS prior to investing in the programme. The proposed framework identifies LSS readiness dimensions and their attributes to enable food businesses to conduct readiness level self-assessments, thereby contributing to the successful implementation of LSS in the food manufacturing industry. The determined readiness factors will potentially enable an organisational transformation to be better understood, making the implementation of LSS practices in food businesses more successful and sustainable.

The Achilles heel of the U.S. food industries: Exposure to labor and upstream industries in the supply chain

AbstractThe modern‐day food industries are part of a complex agri‐food supply chain, where food production has become efficient yet potentially vulnerable to supply chain risks. The COVID‐19 pandemic is a testament to that end. This article measures and identifies the U.S. food manufacturing industries' vulnerability to upstream industries and labor occupations by (a) calculating a food industry's diversification of intermediate input purchases across upstream industries, (b) quantifying the relative exposure of food manufacturing in a given industry and location to upstream input suppliers and labor occupations, and (c) estimating each food industry's gross output elasticity of inputs. This article also explores geographic heterogeneity in food industries' vulnerability. Among our results, we find evidence that the animal processing industry's output is relatively vulnerable to production labor, consistent with the observed disruptions to the meatpacking sector during COVID‐19, which were largely caused by labor issues. Our results may help academics and practitioners to understand food industries' vulnerabilities to upstream industries and labor occupations.

A Method Applied in Anomaly Detection of Impurities Adhering to Pipes of Coriolis Mass Flowmeter

The Coriolis mass flowmeter (CMF) is widely used to measure mass flow, mainly in petrochemical, medical, pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, and other industries. The measuring tube is the crucial component of CMF, which affects the measurement accuracy and causes losses to the production of enterprises. Wall-mounted failure of the measuring tube affects measurement accuracy. A real-time detection method based on acceleration sensor array signal processing and pattern recognition are proposed to detect such failure. Two acceleration sensors are arranged outside the CMF to compose a five-channel sensor array. The signals of the multichannel array are decomposed through a blind source separation algorithm, and array signal features are extracted by a wavelet scattering network. Support vector data description (SVDD) is used to detect the hanging state of CMF at last. The experimental results show that the proposed method can be used to detect the CMF wall-mounted failure in real-time with an accuracy of 89.59%, and the method can reduce production losses.

Gelation of konjac glucomannan by acetylmannan esterases from Aspergillus oryzae

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a principal component of the gelatinous food Konjac. Konjac production through alkali treatment releases an undesirable amine-odor. Two acetylesterases (AME1 and AME2) active against konjac glucomannan (polymer or oligomer) were purified from the supernatant of Aspergillus oryzae RIB40 culture. We cloned the genes encoding AME1 and AME2 based on the genomic information of A. oryzae, constructed their expression systems in A. oryzae, and obtained the recombinant enzymes (rAME1 and rAME2). rAME1 did not act on the KGM polymer but only on the KGM oligomer, releasing approximately 60% of the acetic acid in the substrate. However, rAME2 was active against both KGM substrates, releasing approximately 80% and 100% of acetic acid from the polymer and oligomer, respectively. Both enzymes were active against xylan and exhibited a trace activity on ethyl ferulate. The acetyl group position specificities of both enzymes were analyzed via heteronuclear single quantum correlation NMR using oligosaccharides of glucomannan prepared from Aloe vera (AGM), which has a higher acetyl group content than KGM. rAME1 acted specifically on single-substituted acetyl groups and not on double-substituted ones. In contrast, rAME2 appeared to act on all the acetyl groups in AGM. Treatment of 3% KGM with rAME2 followed by heating to 90 °C resulted in gel formation under weakly acidic conditions. This is the first study to induce gelation of KGM under these conditions. A comparison of the breaking and brittleness properties of gels formed by alkaline and enzymatic treatments revealed similar texture of the two gels. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy of the surface structure of both gels revealed that both formed a fine mesh structure. Our findings on enzymatic gelation of KGM should lead to the development of new applications in food manufacturing industry.

A Machine Learning Model To Analyze The Appropriateness of A Career Regarding Employees’ Clinical Symptoms: A Case Study of A Food Manufacturing Industry

Employee health is an essential issue for Human Resource Management (HRM). The employees’ health level is undeniably correlated to the job position since poor health conditions may harm their well-being, and they may not perform their duties properly. Prompt diagnosis and resolution of employees’ physical complications are highly critical. Machine learning (ML) is the state-of-the-art method potentially utilized to make early predictions to safeguard employees’ health. The technical laborers within the food manufacturing company are included in this Research. The functional classification models, namely, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Logistic Regression (LR), Decision Tree, are exploited to predict the employees’ wellness for their vocation. K-fold Cross-Validation (KCV) and Confusion Matrix were applied in this study (the former for estimating the model’s functionality and the latter for forecasting accuracy). After implementing four models on the 231 employees, the accuracy was extracted out, SVM with 78%, KNN with 78%, Decision Tree with 80%, and the highest accuracy for LR algorithm with 84%. In this Research, the LR algorithm was opted to pave the way for Human Resources Managers in order to utilize a functional system to predict the Suitability of factory workers concerning their health. The hearing condition was a leading factor in selecting employees for their job position. Consequently, it is significant to plan a hearing conservation program for employees, especially those exposed to excessive noise.

A Review on Environmental Science and Pollution using the DEMATEL Method

Environmentally hazardous materials are pollution. These dangerous substances are called pollutants. Contaminants together with volcanic ash can be herbal. They also can be created by means of human activities inclusive of garbage or waste produced by way of factories. Pollution damages air, water, and land nice, and whilst you study environmental science, you're dedicated to gaining knowledge of about topics like knowledge Earth techniques, comparing alternative electricity assets, the outcomes of climate change, and controlling pollutants. Burning fossil fuels consisting of oil, fuel or coal. Smoke from your cars. Improper control o f strong waste as a result of garbage pollutants. Noxious odors or gas emissions from plastic production, paints, and so on. Through environmental technology research, the government has diagnosed that our Exercise and the health of our environment are intertwined. Now, persevere Environmental science research and sustainable schooling and balance our ecosystems Protect and reverse the damage we've done, of fate It is necessary to stop the destruction Environmental pollution is a major supply of human fitness and sustainable improvement of society and financial system within the international. A correct end on your pollutants essay is to say ways wherein the presence of environmental pollution (ie, heavy metals and persistent organic pollution) can help reduce pollutants Emissions of specialty equipment production Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Ammonia Nitrogen (NH3-N) in 2012 compared to 2002 7.69 and 6.79 % per annum on average respectively. has decreased. The overall water quality of the basin has improved, Reached third grade. Environmental quality for surface water Standards (GB3838-2002), ^ The main reason for this is pollution in 2012 with the advancement of reduction technology (2002 10% increase compared to) wastewater treatment The ratio gradually increased to 90%. related to Implementation of policies and regulations. Water Contribution of environmental pollution in related cities Analyzed from (Jining, Zhaozhuang, Hess). Ginning for Water Pollution of Lake Nancy Basin results to be the largest contributor As indicated, with industry evidence More pollution from domestic sources compared to has wastewater, COD and NH3-N Mainly came from coal mining and washing, Manufacture of raw chemicals and chemical products, paper Manufacturing industry and food processing industry. Nancy According to the characteristics of water pollution in the lake basin, and to prevent coastal point source pollution of Lake Nancy to control and provide a scientific basis, the basin Pollution Treatment Strategy and Prevention and Treatment Methodology was divided. DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) They are divided into analysis using the Nonmetal mineral product industry, General equipment manufacturing, Mining and washing of coal, Textile industry, Food manufacturing industry It is the interaction between the factors Visualized and assesses dependent relationships Through the structural model Also deals with identifying important. Nonmetal mineral product industry, General equipment manufacturing, Mining and washing of coal, Textile industry, Food manufacturing industry. Environmental science and pollution in Non-metal mineral product industry is got the first rank whereas is the General equipment manufacturing is having the Lowest rank. Environmental science and pollution in Non-metal mineral product industry is got the first rank whereas is the General equipment manufacturing is having the lowest rank.

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An Exploration of Listeria monocytogenes, Its Influence on the UK Food Industry and Future Public Health Strategies.

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive intracellular pathogen that can cause listeriosis, an invasive disease affecting pregnant women, neonates, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Principally foodborne, the pathogen is transmitted typically through contaminated foods. As a result, food manufacturers exert considerable efforts to eliminate L. monocytogenes from foodstuffs and the environment through food processing and disinfection. However, L. monocytogenes demonstrates a range of environmental stress tolerances, resulting in persistent colonies that act as reservoirs for the reintroduction of L. monocytogenes to food contact surfaces and food. Novel technologies for the rapid detection of L. monocytogenes and disinfection of food manufacturing industries have been developed to overcome these obstacles to minimise the risk of outbreaks and sporadic cases of listeriosis. This review is aimed at exploring L. monocytogenes in the UK, providing a summary of outbreaks, current routine microbiological testing and the increasing awareness of biocide tolerances. Recommendations for future research in the UK are made, pertaining to expanding the understanding of L. monocytogenes dissemination in the UK food industry and the continuation of novel technological developments for disinfection of food and the food manufacturing environment.

Analyzing aggregate environmental monitoring data for Listeria spp. in frozen food manufacturing environments

Food processors face serious challenges due to the ubiquity and prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in production and processing facilities. Environmental monitoring for Listeria within the industry is important and detection of Listeria spp. is often used as an indicator for the potential presence of L. monocytogenes in the food processing environment. Environmental monitoring data from the frozen food manufacturing industry was compiled and analyzed to evaluate the adequacy of current practices in mitigating risks of L. monocytogenes in the processing environment and to determine if there are trends that could be used to further refine industry practices. A method to collect anonymous data for analysis to build a strong aggregate data set from multiple facilities was used. Information included general descriptions of each facility and specific information about individual environmental monitoring test results from environmental zones 2–4, or nonfood contact surfaces. Information collected from facilities included the size of the facilities and how environmental monitoring samples were collected and analyzed. For each individual sample, information collected included the area or equipment sampled and the result of each sample. Descriptors were provided to allow for grouping of similar results. The data represents environmental monitoring samples that were collected between six months to a year prior to the beginning of this research. Twenty-seven facilities provided 42,799 environmental monitoring observations. Environmental zones 3 and 4 had a higher estimated marginal probability of Listeria positive results compared to zone two for routine environmental monitoring samples (p < 0.05). Pre-lethality and post-lethality production areas had a higher probability of Listeria positive results compared to lethality areas for all environmental samples (p < 0.05). Cold storage locations, i.e., coolers and freezers had a significantly higher probability for a Listeria positive result than noncold storage areas (p < 0.01). Applying statistical modeling and comparing estimated marginal probabilities of aggregate Listeria prevalence data from processing operations across the industry can provide information for guidance on focusing sanitation within processing operations to reduce risk related to L. monocytogenes. These data help to identify common themes in the industry and determine potential areas on which to focus when testing for prevalence of Listeria spp. within the food processing environment. This study serves as a useful baseline for continued improvement in environmental monitoring across all frozen food manufacturing facilities. • Environmental monitoring samples from frozen food facilities were collected. • Twenty-seven facilities provided 42,799 environmental monitoring observations. • Zones 3/4 had a higher probability of Listeria positive results compared to zone 2.

Measuring firms' dynamic inefficiency accounting for corporate social responsibility in the U.S. food and beverage manufacturing industry

AbstractThis article proposes an innovative approach to evaluate firms' inefficiency accounting for corporate social responsibility. In the first step, we estimate dynamic inefficiency for each factor of production using data envelopment analysis. Next, we explore differences in inefficiencies between groups of firms of which participation is determined using latent class analysis. The empirical application focuses on the United States food and beverage manufacturing firms over the period 2004–2018. The results distinguish three classes of firms that differ in terms of their inefficiency, their association with external covariates as well as in their input–output profiles.

Engaging with social media in a context of fragmentation and change: Chilean unions' use of the Internet and social media

PurposeThis paper explores the ways in which a range of company-level trade unions based in Chile's food manufacturing industry engage with Internet technologies and social media.Design/methodology/approachThe research has a qualitative methodology with 69 semi-structured interviews conducted between 2015 and late-2019 with different level informants such as trade union leaders, human resource managers, line managers, labour lawyers, academics and field experts.FindingsThe findings suggest that these trade unions' engagement with social media was not widespread, using it to share communication of day-to-day activities with members. The article argues that even in contexts where there appear to be some radical union traditions, a trade unions' identity, as well as the nature of the employment relationship, can have a constraining effect regarding how unions use digital technologies and social media.Practical implicationsThe article suggests new ways for Chilean trade unions to take the opportunities offered by digital platforms and social media to enhance the representation of their workers' collective rights while advancing the labour movement's agenda.Originality/valueThe paper makes a direct contribution to the literature on Internet technologies, social media and the labour movement, while expanding the empirical evidence on the topic and looking at the limitations and constraints on the use of social media in this context. Given the current discussion in academic settings as well as within the union movement about the importance of social media for trade union revitalization, the present paper focuses on building empirical research in a less known context (i.e. Chile).

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Food Supply Chain and the Role of E-Commerce for Food Purchasing

The world has been plagued by an unforeseen threat to public health by the appearance of COVID-19, which has impacted the world’s economy and the worldwide supply chain. The unexpected pandemic (COVID-19) quickly spread across the world, leaving not a single country unaffected by the worldwide pandemic. At the start of COVID-19, several countries adopted social distancing and lockdowns due to the virus. The existing pandemic’s discriminatory aspect has a negative influence on human health and the standard of living, as well as worldwide trade, supply chains, and major economies. COVID-19 has been shown to have an effect throughout the broader food supply chain, one of the largest significant sectors of any country, from the field to the consumers. There are currently substantial concerns regarding food production, manufacturing, delivery, and consumption in light of emerging issues within the food supply chain. Limitations on the mobility of workers, variations in consumer demands, the shutdown of food manufacturing industries, limited food trading regulations, and financial stress throughout the food supply chain are all results of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic (COVID-19) has changed consumer behavior and affected the business and economic sector. The purpose of this study was to explore the application of the Q-technique in the investigation of online consumer and manufacturer behavior in relation to end-user food purchases via digital marketing skills, supply chain possibilities, food purchaser and consumer happiness, and e-commerce infrastructure efficiency under the influence of COVID-19. The results show that in the crisis of supply chain management, clarifying the import food industry e-commerce supply chain crisis items, and determining their priority and strength can help enterprises make emergency decisions regarding supply chain operation; they can also be used as a reference for enterprises to use in responding to the crisis.

Characterization and Optimization of Fungal L-Asparaginase Isolated From Soil and Medicinal Plants

L-asparaginase is a therapeutic enzyme that converts L-asparagine into ammonia and L-aspartate. L-asparaginase is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. In food manufacturing industries, it is used to inhibit the acrylamide formation. The current investigation has been performed to isolate L-asparaginase producing fungi from different medicinal plants and soil samples, through serial dilution. A total number of 15 fungal isolates were obtained from soil samples and 6 endophytic fungi isolated from medicinal plants. By performing screening of L-asparaginase 67% of positive isolates were obtained from endophytes and soil samples. Optimization of L-asparaginase production was performed for parameters such as pH, temperature, carbon and nitrogen source, and it was found that pH 6, 30˚C, 2 g of glucose, and 1 g of L-arginine is suitable for maximum enzyme production. By performing Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the molecular weight of an enzyme was determined to be approximately 11.2 kDa.

Influence of Supplier sustainability on Organizational Performance in Food and Beverage Manufacturing Companies in Kenya

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of supplier sustainability on organizational performance in food and beverage manufacturing companies in Kenya. Supplier sustainability is part of emerging issues in the dynamic business world as it is part of the Triple Bottom Line approach that wants businesses to not only focus on their profitability and the planet, but is also in the people aspect-which in this study is the supplier in their business operations. Sustainability philosophy points at the importance of not only doing business now and succeeding, but also ensuring the business continues into the distant future. Supplier sustainability in the food and beverage manufacturing arena is important since most industries depend on the contracted farmers, in this study, the supplier for their input materials. The study employed a descriptive research design. The study used systems theory. The target population was 534 respondents comprising of 217 procurement managers and 217 procurement officers from 217 food and beverage manufacturing companies. Using Yamane’s formula, a sample size of 230 respondents comprising of 115 managers and 115 procurement officers was selected from 115 food and beverage manufacturing companies in Kenya. Simple random sampling was used to get the sample for the study. Purposive sampling was used to get top procurement personnel in the food and beverage manufacturing firms. Primary data was collected by the use of a questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using descriptive and regression analysis. From the model, (R2 = .490) shows that supplier sustainability accounts for 49% variation in organizational performance in food and beverage manufacturing companies in Kenya. There was a significant influence of supplier sustainability (?=.520) on performance of food and beverage manufacturing companies. The study concluded that supplier sustainability influences the performance of food and beverage manufacturing companies. The study recommends that Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industry in Kenya and also organizations that are non-manufacturing should ensure that their suppliers are sustainable and have an environmental management system that both buyer and supplier understand. The study proposes further research in other manufacturing sectors and also proposes that data is collected from the supplier side to corroborate research in this area.

Advanced cutting techniques for solid food: Mechanisms, applications, modeling approaches, and future perspectives.

Cutting is an imperative operation in the food-manufacturing factory, separating food into a predefined geometry. A broad range of solid foods, with various components, textures, and structures, pose enormous challenges to conventional cutting strategies. Additionally, the cutting performance is significantly impacted by the processing parameters, wherein trial-and-error or empirical methods are often used to select the parameters in source-wasting and time-consuming ways. Hence, there is a need to accelerate the development of advanced cutting techniques and novel modeling approaches in the food-manufacturing industry. Recently, advanced cutting techniques (ultrasonic vibration-assisted [UVA], laser, and waterjet cutting) are seen to be superior in processing foods of various textures, with the advantages of high cutting quality, low contamination, and easy operation. Compared with conventional cutting, advanced cutting techniques can dramatically reduce cutting force and energy consumption, resulting in high efficiency, energy-and-source saving, and low carbon footprint. Additionally, the finite element (FE) model does simulate the cutting process well, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology is competent to optimize the cutting parameters. This review is perhaps the first one focusing on the advanced cutting techniques applied in the food industry, serving as a summary of the cutting mechanisms, critical influence factors, and applications of conventional and advanced cutting techniques including UVA, laser, and waterjet cutting. In addition, the modeling approaches with respect to FE and AI models are emphasized. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of advanced cutting techniques combined with modeling approaches are highlighted, and those approaches are promising in the future intelligent food-manufacturing industry. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The review clearly demonstrates that advanced cutting techniques as having advantages such as high efficiency, energy-and-source saving, and low damages, thus exhibiting great potential in processing food of various textures with high cutting quality, low contamination, and easy operation. Additionally, the FE model does simulate the cutting process well and AI is competent in optimizing the cutting parameters, which possesses great potential in providing comprehensive cutting information and selecting the optimal combination of cutting parameters.

Employer constraints on trade union renewal in Chile

The present article explores the revitalisation strategies developed by a company-level trade union in the food manufacturing industry in Chile. Using qualitative research and building on a case study, the findings suggest that predominant renewal strategies were restructuring through mergers, a variation on the Anglo-Saxon labour-management partnership, and organising based on recruiting new members and legal mobilization. The article argues that these revitalisation strategies were implemented in relation to the deployment of the employer's trade union weakening strategies, this being the central feature that drove the renewal capabilities of the researched trade union. The article contributes to enlarge the understanding of the way employer strategies and regulatory contexts shape the union revitalization framework.

Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Natural Products Chemistry – Review of Modern Trends (Alkaloids and Terpenes)

Natural products are also known as secondary metabolites, compounds that are naturally produced by biological organisms. These natural products have a broad range of functions which include agents that solubilize and transport nutrients, like siderophores which transport iron Fe3+ across membranes in bacteria and fungi; they are often structurally complex molecules that possess a well-defined spatial orientation. These compounds have evolved to interact efficiently with their biological targets, as their producers evolved alongside their target organisms. This work aimed at reviewing modern trends in isolation and structural elucidation of Alkaloids and Terpenes. Alkaloids are the main secondary metabolites which have medical properties. It can be used to avoid the several degenerative sicknesses by scavenging free radical or binding with catalyst, the oxidative reaction. Terpenes or terpenoids are the major diverse group occurring in plants naturally, depending on isoprene unit’s number. Humans used several of terpenoid compounds to produce important compounds such as vitamin A from βcarotene. Generally, terpenes in foods contain a main effect on our eating practice. Terpenoid as pigments, like bixin, astaxanthin, and lycopene are utilized in the food manufacturing industry. The modern techniques as well as the advanced instruments that employed in the discovery programme of bioactive natural products facilitated the task of the natural product chemists and permitted them to detect, target, isolate and elucidate the structure of the pharmacologically active natural product in significantly short times compared with that done in the not too distant past. Conclusively, the review identified the various modern methods that are in use in the isolation, purification and structure elucidation of alkaloids and terpenoids. these include NMR,MS and hyphenated HPLC system.

The Impact of Intra-Industry Trade on South Korea’s Food Manufacturing Industry

The Impact of Intra-Industry Trade on South Korea’s Food Manufacturing Industry

Analysis of Situation Awareness-Related Incidents in the Food Manufacturing Industry

Analysis of Situation Awareness-Related Incidents in the Food Manufacturing Industry