Meat processing software Explained - Top 5 Meat Processing Software Solutions

What is meat processing software and why processing plants need to utilize it?

Meat processing software is a general term that encompasses the many different types of software applications used in meat processing plants. The primary reason why meat processing businesses choose to implement software solutions is to become more efficient, remain compliant with food safety mandates and increase processing output to maximize profits.

Meat processing software provides primary processors with the ability to track animals across all meat processing operations from receiving through the harvest process. For secondary processing, it tracks raw materials going into production batches all the way through to finished goods packaging. Finally, meat processing software typically has the capability to allow users to create sales orders, pick finished goods to those orders, and create shipping and truck paperwork.

What capabilities should meat processing software have?

For primary processors, meat processing software should be able to monitor and track live animal receiving, ear tag retirement, dynamic data capture, live, hot, and cold weight capture, full carcass traceability, carcass grading, and yield reporting.

For secondary processing, meat processing software should be able to receive raw material, create production batches, track raw material, capture data through various steps of the manufacturing process, weigh and label products, create sales orders, and do picking and shipping.

Typically, meat processing software should also have the ability to interface with other plant software applications like accounting, ERP, logistics, and other types of systems.

Top 5 Meat Processing Software Solutions

There are several types of software that can be used in meat processing operations, depending on the specific needs of the company. Here are the top 5 meat processing software solutions used by North American meat and poultry processors.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software:

Meat processing ERP software is a comprehensive system that integrates different business functions, such as finance, sales, inventory management, and production. Some ERP systems are specifically designed for the meat processing industry and include features such as traceability, lot control, and quality management.

Key Features a meat processing ERP software should include:

• Production and resource planning
• Product costing
• Recipe management
• Integration to a plant-floor system for product weighing and labeling

Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software:

In the meat processing industry, MES software is used to track production processes on the plant floor. Meat processors use it to monitor the progress of each batch of production, ensure equipment performance, and stay compliant with regulatory requirements.

With Carlisle MES software, meat processing plants can perform the following:

• Create production batches
• Keep an accurate record of all raw materials issued to each production batch
• Associate production outputs (like intermediate products and finished goods) to specific production batches
• Have a complete view of every production batch from raw material inputs through to finished goods outputs.

WMS - Inventory Management Software

WMS (Warehouse Management Software) or Inventory Management Software is used to track the movement of raw materials, ingredients, and finished products in the supply chain. It can be used to manage stock levels, track expiry dates, and optimize inventory levels.

With Carlisle Technology's meat processing WMS platform, processing plants are enabled to:

• Complete traceability from supplier to customer
• Complex inventory management
• Centralized product and label management
• Sales orders, purchase orders, product costing, and invoicing
• Pricelist management
• Reporting: sales, inventory, production, margins, and yields.
• Integration with ERP and Accounting systems

Product Weighing & Labelling Software

Most food processing businesses in North America have realized the need to weigh and label their products. Plant Floor software applications, like Carlisle Technology’s iCap software, fully integrate scales, printers, and scanners together. Operators simply put their products on the scale, select the item they are working with, and the solution will weigh and print a label.

Weighing and labeling solutions can also be fully automated so that processing plants can weigh and label products operator-free. When choosing an automated weighing and labeling solution, it’s best to ensure the system has essential features.

A robust automated weighing and labeling solution should offer advanced features such as:

• Inbound product identification (used to identify mixed products prior to weighing)
• Automated weight and data capture
• Automated case labeling
• Outbound label verification
• Reject management

Food Traceability Software

Traceability software is used to track the origin and movement of products throughout the supply chain. It can be used to trace the source of any quality or safety issues, and ensure that products are compliant with regulatory requirements.

Food traceability software solutions like the Symphony Software Suit help food processing businesses automate food traceability by setting defined processes, collecting standardized data, and reporting on crucial production and warehouse insights.

Without a technology-enabled system, food traceability can be tricky. With the right food traceability solution, food processing businesses can:

• Reduce business risk and improve brand image
• Improved recall reaction times
• Streamline inventory management
• Enhance business efficiency
• See their supply chain growth
• Increase profits while reducing costs

Carlisle Technology has specialized in meat processing software and hardware solutions for over 35 years. With our extensive industry experience, Carlisle offers the most complete meat processing software solutions in North America. Contact us today to discuss food processing software solutions with one of our experts.

Written by: Can Malay, SEO Specialist – Carlisle Technology

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