Adapting to Regulation Changes
The latest round of FDA regulations has set new, stringent rules for food traceability so all manufacturers must use tracking to locate goods forward and backwards in their journey. If spoiled goods go to the market and make people sick, the repercussions can be severe both for the consumer and manufacturer. On top of causing injury, a business could become liable if sued for damages and its reputation could be ruined. Staying on top of expiration dates is an essential part of working with perishable goods. Those goods must be processed and delivered to the customer in sufficient time for the consumer to safely ingest them.
Proper tracking starts at the supplier, which in many cases is a grower. Growers need to use some type of farm inventory software to make sure they are selling the products that are picked first and moving produce, grains, etc. while they are fresh. Different crops can last longer, i.e., potatoes have longer shelf lives than lettuce. When the item was picked, how long it lasts and its expiration date are all important details to associate with a lot. Lot tracking allows any type of manufacturer to track this pertinent information so if goods go past their expiration, staff will know they should be thrown away.
No matter what stage of the food processing chain your business is at, ensuring delivery of fresh goods to your customer is vital to protecting your reputation, building your brand and avoiding costly lawsuits or loss of business.
The Impact of Supply Chain Disruption
Word is that we can expect delivery trucks to stop operating when the diesel fuel crisis reaches it peak, coinciding with the holiday shopping delivery peak. Toys can handle late deliveries; perishable goods cannot. If food items get held up, they could expire prior to arrival, and you might have a load of rotten tomatoes at your doorstep. Supply chain disruption is especially costly for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Taking precautions to prepare for unexpected disruptions is good business sense. After the extremes the pandemic inflicted on all types of industries, we’ve all learned very difficult lessons. One of the biggest is that very unpredictable things can happen. If you imagine the worst case scenario, even if preposterous, you can put measures in place to deal with it. Good communication with suppliers is always wise; having a backup strategy in place ahead of time is even smarter. Never wait until disaster happens to come up with a disaster plan. Those who plan for worst case scenarios will endure the next wave of disruptions and persevere stronger, wiser and smarter. The next generation in any industry results from those who remain because they were innovative with products, marketing channels, and were willing to stray from the norm.
No matter what new regulations come your way or what sudden catastrophes throw at you, improving communication, tracking, and transparency can only benefit your business in the long run. Tomorrow may not look like today, but you can prepare for anything.
