Reducing costs in food manufacturing without compromising product quality is achievable through various strategies. By addressing waste and inefficiencies, not only can money be saved, but the overall process and product quality can also be enhanced. Employing technology at key stages, implementing preventive maintenance, and other measures are instrumental in cost reduction within the food manufacturing industry.
1. Enhanced Precision Measurement to Reduce Ingredient Waste:
Using accurate and precise measuring tools can minimize unnecessary ingredient loss and overuse. Careful consideration of load cell capacity, scale instrument capacity, and individual ingredient accuracy is essential. Utilizing different scales for significantly different ingredient amounts or tolerances and employing micro ingredient systems for precise measurements can help reduce costs by minimizing ingredient overfill or waste.
2. System Design to Decrease Product Defects:
Thoughtful system design can address issues that lead to product defects, preventing them from occurring in the first place. Employing good manufacturing practices (GMP) is crucial to avoid introducing metal fragments or other contaminants into the mix. Properly filling ribbon mixers to their swept volume and preventing material segregation can also contribute to product quality.
3. Embrace Preventative Maintenance Instead of Replacements:
Prioritizing preventative maintenance can significantly reduce costs by preventing breakdowns and prolonging the life of expensive equipment. Regularly scheduling maintenance procedures, such as lubricating drive belts, calibrating load cells, and checking and replacing seals and electrical components, can extend the lifespan of machinery.
4. Opt for Bulk Ingredients to Save Time and Costs:
Transitioning from smaller bags to bulk ingredients can save money in the long term. While this may require additional equipment like a super sack unloader, it streamlines the process and reduces costs over time.
5. Design for Compliance and Safety to Avoid Liabilities:
Reducing costs associated with fines and legal fees from regulatory noncompliance or workplace injuries is essential. Adhering to safety regulations and standards like OSHA for worker safety and the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) can prevent unnecessary expenses and create a safer work environment.
6. Machine Synchronization to Eliminate Downtime:
Efficient system design can synchronize machines, reducing idle time and optimizing productivity. Introducing redundancy and utilizing multiple smaller mixers instead of one large mixer can help maintain production during maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
By implementing these strategies, food manufacturing facilities can effectively reduce costs while enhancing their overall efficiency and productivity. Keeping these methods in mind during plant improvements will lead to lasting benefits.
7. Use a B2B online platform
Cost reduction and increasing profitability are crucial goals for both food companies and contract manufacturers in the food industry. One effective way to achieve these objectives is by streamlining your processes. Digital platforms like GrowinCo. offer valuable assistance to buyers by helping them find co-manufacturers, co-packers, ingredients, flavors, and solutions for various product projects.
On the other hand, contract manufacturers can leverage GrowinCo. to monetize their idle capacity, showcase their capabilities, and offer solutions to a vast community of CPG companies. This community includes top food brands such as Mondelez, Conagra, Ajinomoto, Kellogg’s, Cargill, KraftHeinz, and many more.
Customers can select from a variety of plans, and with a large supplier database, GrowinCo. effectively reduces the time and hassle of processes for both buyers and sellers.
Cost reduction is a complex task for any type of business that values quality, but it’s not impossible and can be much easier when you have the right tools for it!
