Industrial Production

Computer Aided Design (CAD) 

• desk research
• carrying out and analysing data
• designing packaging and labels 

Advantages:

• gives greater accuracy 
• gives a professional finish
• allows certain tasks to be completed quickly 
• design can be easily changed - graphics and colours can be modelled 
• can be sent quickly by email - manufacturing stage 

Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) 

using computers to control machinery during food production 

Advantages:

• saves time 
• standardises production 
• increases productivity 
• increase reliability of finished products 
• monitors the production system 
• reduces need for storage 
• increases safety 
• high standard of packaging can be produced and maintained 
• data handling can deal with large amount of information 

• High acidic levels - e.g. fruits 
  • cause mixtures to curdle 
  • e.g. lemon juice is added before a sauce is made - milk would curdle 

• Low acidic levels - e.g. milk 
  • need to have acidic levels raised - ensure smooth texture 
  • e.g. yogurt 

Computer sensors monitor food:

• production rate 
• weight
• metal detection
• flow rates 
• moisture content 

Computers assist in monitoring and control of foods:

• sorting and grading of raw materials
• the weight of the product before packaging
• seals on packaging
• bacterial content of products 

Computers affect workforce:

• staff would need training on how to operate equipment 
• reduction of number of people employed
• engineers required
• jobs could become monotonous and boring 

+ an individual or unique finished product

+ a high-quality product 

- skilled staff required

- can take a long time to manufacture - more processes - carried out by hand 

- can be expensive 

+ small orders

+ raw materials and components - purchased in bulk - reduce cost 

+ more products can be made at the same time - reduce cost 

- waste can be high is process fails 

+ specialised equipment carries out tasks 

+ orders met very efficiently and quickly 

+ low worker to product ratio 

- maintenance needs to be very thorough 

- initial setup cost is high - specialised equipment 

- tasks carried out by workers can be repetitive and boring 

+ high-quality product 

+ orders can be met quickly and efficiently 

+ small workforce needed 

+ consistent product produced 

+ raw materials and components - bought in bulk - reduce cost 

- maintenance needs to be very thorough - breakdown = expensive

- initial setup cost is high - specialised equipment needed 

- tasks are repetitive and boring for workforce 

Quality Assurance - A system which lays down procedures for making a safe, quality product 

• specification checks
• hygiene procedures 
• monitoring waste
• sensory waste 

Quality Control - a way of checking the quality of a product during or at the end of the production system

includes the critical control points in HACCP 

makes sure product meets specification 

Uses:

• nano-emulsions - create double emulsions - improve texture of sauces 
• nano food synthesisers - create or alter food molecules 
• nono-capsule protection - fortifying nutrients to our body - slowly released - release controlled flavour in a drink 
• nono-sensors - detect changes in pH, temperature or pathogens 
• nano-bots - mini robots that destroy microbes