Whitepaper explores traceability in the FMCG sector

Recognising how traceability has evolved due to the implementation of technology, Omron has produced a Whitepaper that explores the evolution of traceability and explains why the latest phase, Traceability 4.0, is not just about tracking products throughout the supply chain but also optimising productivity, quality and brand reputation within the manufacturing operation by tying product to process parameters.

The paper addresses a key question: in today’s digital age where we are implementing technology at the fastest rate than ever before, why are so many producers of food still allowing paper to dominate as the source of information in the process of food traceability?

A lack of comprehensive traceability systems can potentially have disastrous outcomes for everyone in the supply chain, from producer to consumer. Paper does not control anything. It is just a written record, there’s no validation and no control.

In the food and beverage industry, authenticity is essential. Consumers need to know that the foods they’re purchasing consist of the things listed on their labels, as food allergies and expired foods can cause serious illness and possibly death. Since both public health and consumer satisfaction depend so heavily on product integrity, the food and beverage packaging industry is highly regulated.

The breadth and scope of traceability has expanded significantly over the years along with advances in technology, making it a critical application for today’s world-class manufacturers.

Traceability is a much-used term in manufacturing and supply chain management. Like many industry phrases (Internet of Things, for example), traceability can mean different things to different people or organisations. For that reason, ‘Traceability 4.0’ has been adopted to describe the current and future phases of traceability in a global context and how it applies to the FMCG sector where, if nothing else, traceability is a basic legal requirement.

Traceability definitions have been evolving since the invention of automatic data capture equipment – primarily barcode readers – over 40 years ago. Since then, traceability applications have evolved to support industrial development from both a product, technology and business process perspective.

You can download the paper by visiting the Omron website