Trends in food packaging and manufacturing systems and technology

Why it matters

According to the researchers, there are a lot of similarities between the food processing and packaging industry and the traditional manufacturing industry. Hence, manufacturing concepts like lean principles, production systems and mass customization principles can easily be applied to the food industry as well. Even though researchers have focused on applying these techniques to the food industry, there seems to be a gap between research and its implementation in the industry. The authors looked into the trends as well as the state-of-the-art in food processing and packaging industry with emphasis on the materials, machines and methods used in the industry that provide companies with a competitive edge in the marketplace. They presented the essence of the smart packaging and showed how the associated materials play major role in this respect. Moreover, they presented the trends in automation and control schemes along with usage of latest technology, and reviewed the proven principles of productivity-oriented management strategies and the relevant work of the researchers in relation to food industry.

Reference

The article appears in the March 2010 issue of the Trends in Food Science & Technology journal (volume 21, issue 3, pages 117-128). Authors: Nitaigour P. Mahalik & Arun N. Nambiar.

Abstract

In today's world of global markets and stiff competition in every product along with increasing consumer demand, it becomes imperative for companies to explore ways to improve their productivity in terms of maintaining safety, using sustainable packaging materials, implementing flexible and standardized technology, and adopting proven management principles. In this paper, we look into the state-of-the-art in the food processing and packaging industry in the light of recent advancements in the fields of (i) smart packaging and materials including the application of nanoscience and technology, (ii) automation and control technology, standards, and their application scenarios, and finally (iii) production management principles and their improvements for the food industry. A comprehensive review on the above and related areas is presented in appropriate order. From the survey of literature, it is clear that although researchers have focused on individual aspects of the processing, packaging, and manufacturing, there is need for a more holistic approach to system analysis while understanding the scope of the entire operations. We conclude that it is imperative to investigate why the practical implementations of these advancements seem to lag behind research in the field.