Tyson Foods began work on a multi-million dollar improvement and expansion project at its poultry complex in Sedalia, Mo., creating as many as 200 additional jobs in the next two years.


Tyson Foods, Inc., Springdale, Ark., began work on a multi-million dollar improvement and expansion project at its poultry complex in Sedalia, Mo. The expansion will create as many as 200 additional jobs in the next two years.
 
Improvements will include state-of-the-art processes and technologies designed to benefit animal handling, food safety, environmental quality, workplace safety and production, such as:
•         The addition of up to five poultry deboning lines;
•         Upgrades to the plant’s wastewater treatment operations; and
•         Improvements in the poultry slaughter area.
 
The project also will upgrade parts of the plant that have been in operation since 1994.
 
“Tyson chose to make this investment in Sedalia because of the quality of the local workforce and the outstanding family farmers that grow for us in the area,” says Chris McMurrough, vice president of operations. “The improvements will help optimize the plant’s product mix for our customers and make it even more cost competitive.”
 
Ergonomics, the science of making the workplace fit the worker, will be incorporated into the new debone and slaughter areas. This will involve equipment and processes designed to reduce physical demand on certain jobs.
 
In addition to upgraded equipment and infrastructure at the wastewater treatment operations, a third lagoon will be built to ensure there is enough capacity to handle higher volumes. 
 
“The Sedalia complex recently received recognition for its environmental work from the American Meat Institute,” says Alan Johnston, complex manager. “We’ve made being good stewards of the environment a priority with this project.”
 
The Sedalia poultry complex contracts with more than 125 poultry farmers in seven counties in central Missouri. Complex operations include the poultry processing plant, hatchery, feed mill, live haul operations, wastewater treatment facility and a rendering operation. The plant produces fully cooked chicken for grocery customers, including fully cooked patties, nuggets, wings and breast strips.