SoftTrace: Traceability Partners for Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research

May 29, 2012 - PRLog -- The SoftTrace suite of Traceability and Quality Management software modules for the Dairy Industry will be implemented in the Centre for Dairy Research (CDR), Wisconsin in a traceability partnership designed to augment the center’s $32 million initiative to modernize its manufacturing, research and education facility.

When completed, the new facility will include a modern milk intake area and state-of-the-art dairy processing plant and provide the CDR with the capacity to continue to lead the US in dairy excellence at a time when the safety and quality of all dairy products is an increasingly vital part of the industry’s success.

The individual SoftTrace modules add up to a plant-wide data collection and management system. The suite can be implemented on a modular basis to create a system with the required degree of flexibility to meet the specific needs and budget of individual customers in the Dairy industry. Wisconsin CDR will implement the full SoftTrace suite to support all aspects of their cheese, butter, powder, ice-cream and yoghurt manufacturing. The system will, for example, track and monitor milk received and released into the manufacturing process, capture information from analytical instruments, manage laboratory information, run processing systems, track and integrate in-process data to product tank and individual vat level, manage inventory, control dispatch based on positive release procedures, and – critically – ensure full traceability to the finished product.

Commenting on the partnership, John Lucey (Director Wisconsin CDR) said:

Quality Control has always been important in the Dairy processing sector but modern facilities are moving towards integrated quality management systems and traceability. The Wisconsin Centre for Dairy Research is delighted to partner with SoftTrace and include their world-class software systems in the new dairy research and education centre. These systems represent a paradigm shift from simply collecting data to using the data for informed decision making.

For more than 25 years the CDR has worked to provide the US Dairy industry with outstanding service in the areas of research and innovation and each year provides in excess of 200 companies with knowledge, solutions and education. This project is aimed at helping US dairy companies effectively engage growing markets, take advantage of greater innovation, gain insight from Wisconsin CDR expertise and do it in a technologically advanced working environment.

The new 67,000 sq. ft. renewal will include a 37,000 sq. ft. addition with 20,000 sq. ft. dedicated to new research and processing space. A specialty ripening room, a larger protein fractionation area and a cultured products suite will also be added to support the growth of functional proteins, specialty cheese and cultured products. A larger facility will provide increased space for industry training.

SoftTrace systems are used by Dairy and Food companies in Europe and USA – and not only address their complex quality, traceability, product safety and risk management challenges. SoftTrace also supports industry leaders, such as Kerry Group and Glanbia, in achieving increased operational efficiency and profits, effective control of inventory, maximized product yield management, improved operating profits and a reduction in overhead costs. SoftTrace demos are available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Sx5Iyvomw and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tye5QE7HhCY





About SoftTrace

www.soft-trace.com
Founded in Cork in 2002, SoftTrace is a leading provider of Traceability and Quality Management Software for the Dairy, Food, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare industries. The company’s exclusive focus is on the design, development, implementation and support of the SoftTrace suite of software modules.

SoftTrace guarantees full, demonstrable forward and backward traceability from raw material and ingredients intake through in-process to finished goods, storage and dispatch. This is achieved by focusing at plant level to track and integrate all relevant data from source to finished product and manage quality throughout the entire manufacturing process.

SoftTrace is a full service provider with services ranging from expert consultancy, risk analysis and needs assessment to customised software and hardware implementations, and on-going technical support.