Reducing the risk of a recall: How the IIoT can help

According to the USDA, the amount of food recalled nationally increased by 37 million pounds between 2015 and 2016.  Why the uptick? I believe this reflects increased diligence on the part of food manufacturers to protect both consumers and their valuable food brands. Nevertheless, across the industry, the focus on avoiding or limiting recalls is intense. Beyond the direct cost, a recall due to food safety or quality issues can do significant damage to a manufacturer’s brand, and ultimately, its performance in the marketplace.                                                            

Producers of refrigerated and frozen foods rose to the challenge with an array of sophisticated techniques to mitigate risk, including DNA analysis, to detect elements that could impact food safety. Manufacturers generally have good controls within their own processes. What they don’t have is granular, end-to-end monitoring of their extended supply chain—from upstream raw materials suppliers through the entire production and packaging process to the distribution network. That’s where the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can have a transformative impact.