Mettler-Toledo updates ProdX inspection software
Based on Industry 4.0 principles of secure machine-to-machine communication, and in preparation for connectivity to the latest data-protective Blockchain technology, ProdX delivers full digital track and trace and real-time food safety compliance.
Specific enhancements include: Security features, such as enhanced password rules to enforce the use of strong passwords that must be centrally verified by the software; Security across firewalls, with enhanced Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture (OPC UA) encrypted machine-to-machine communication, including tags for performance test results, shared with high-end systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution System (MES); automatically logged performance test data to fulfil food safety regulations; full support for batch changeovers, which means an individual product can be automatically traced via its unique serial number; and a testing regime for product inspection, ensuring due diligence and compliant performance.
“Food manufacturers are under increasing pressure to satisfy stringent food safety rules and regulations. The growing need for continuous real-time monitoring of food safety compliance will force a cultural attitude change in how manufacturers implement food safety measures,” said Peter Spring, head of product development for ProdX, Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection.
“ProdX enables manufacturers to get ahead of these requirements and operate a cost-effective digital solution that provides real-time food compliance, digital traceability and full integrity of data, as well as complete product inspection management. The need for digital food track and traceability is coming – the latest version of our proprietary software ensures that manufacturers are ready for it right now.”
Enhanced security features ensure food manufacturers can demonstrate full accountability and transparency, with individual password control, centrally verified and linked to each machine operator or team leader’s role and access privileges. Data is automatically captured and is tamper-proof within ProdX 2.4, including metadata, i.e. when, who, where and what was inspected, guaranteeing the integrity of the data in the system.
Instead of manual data input and box ticking, measures such as regular compliance performance tests can be automated, and the results are logged digitally without human intervention. This testing regime means food manufacturers can prove, with the correct documentation, their product inspection equipment has continued to meet compliant performance standards throughout production, at the batch level, or even individual item level.
New regulations and standards on compliance and transparency in the food industry supply chain – for example, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new rules on digital track and trace – make the ability to quickly and accurately track and trace batches of food products more important than ever, the company said.
Spring added, “Food manufacturers must be ready for these changes and digital technology provides the answer. Implementing such a digital transformation on their own can be expensive. It also requires sound planning. Mettler-Toledo’s ProdX product inspection management system is ready to go now and is continually developing to keep ahead of evolving food safety compliance requirements.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the need for greater digital food safety monitoring, with onsite access for auditing often restricted. Product inspection management software such as ProdX enables a proportion of current onsite checks to be handled digitally. In addition, it continuously monitors critical control point data down to batch levels for full track and trace capabilities and, in the event of a product recall, for quick product retrieval.
