Systems Integration case study - Seachill
20 September 2010
Seachill are one of the UKs' leading fresh fish processors. Pioneers in the sector, they have recognised the need to make the transition from a labour intensive, paper based business, to one that records and measures data electronically.
The transition will ensure optimum accuracy, efficiency and traceability.Traceability
Integreater® has been programmed to optimise Seachills' traceability for their purchasing, goods received and packing operations. It works by ensuring that any produce that enters the factory has a unique code called a ‘run marker’. This allows a product’s journey to be easily traced from its ocean of origin right through to the supermarket shelf, enabling potential problems to be identified and rectified at the earliest possible stage.
As Technical Systems Manager, Angela Simpson identifies:
“100% traceability is essential in order to meet requirements set by retailers, the government and the best practice schemes we are affiliated to. Going paperless will prove invaluable moving forwards, dramatically cutting the amount of time required to gather information and produce reports. This reduces our chance of fines, as well as our carbon footprint.”
Accuracy
Seachill are responsible for processing and packing thousands of product units a day, all with specific label data requirements. During development, Angela Simpson outlined the importance of each product unit being weighed and labelled in an accurate but timely manner:
“Failure to do so can be devastating to a business and may ultimately lead to an emergency product recall, fines, damaged customer relationships and bad press.”
After establishing exactly what data would need to be recorded in order to meet their specific business needs, Systems Integration (SI) worked with Seachill to create a system which considerably reduces the risk of error on the factory floor by programming a series of ‘safety nets’ into their network.
Commercial Director, Martin King has been impressed with Integreaters' flexibility:
“SI don’t try to sell you systems that you don’t need. If they haven’t got a programme to meet your requirements, they are enthusiastic about developing a bespoke solution. This has proved invaluable as we pioneer to meet our clients’ ever changing requirements.”
Efficiency
SI are sensitive to tight operating and profit margins within the industry and so worked in partnership with Engineering Director, Wayne Barton to ensure a smooth installation:
“SI worked closely with our team to programme a solution that meets our needs and integrates with our existing systems to reduce installation time, cost and upheaval to the business. The team also worked well under pressure as it turned out that the system needed to be installed sooner than we anticipated.”
IT Manager, Steve Wallace added:
“Disruption was minimised by the fact that Integreaters' touch screen technology is so easy to use, taking less than 10 minutes to train operating staff. I would recommend the system to other businesses in the sector because its OCMs are unique, operating in isolation. This allows individual stations to continue to function, even if there is a network problem.”
Analysis
As a large business with multiple departments measuring various data, Seachill need to produce reports using information from different systems quickly and easily.
They were finding it difficult to manage data stored in various locations and formats. In particular, staff that do not specialise in IT were having difficulty learning how to operate several complicated software programmes and synthesise data from so many sources.
To solve this problem, SI installed Integreater’s Reporting Suite. It is easy to use, allowing staff across the business to produce reports quickly, even when off site. This reduces the cost of employing IT specialists and the expense of training staff to use multiple programmes.
Seachill Commercial Director, Martin King:
“Integreater’s Reporting Suite allows staff from the factory floor to the board room run real time reports quickly and easily, maximising their chance of identifying and rectifying any problems as soon as they arise.”
Integreater®
Integreater® is a complete software and hardware solution that enables food processors to maximise their unique competitive advantage. By providing relevant, meaningful and up to the minute information, integreater® allows processors to identify trends and resolve any potential problems before they escalate. It also enables food producers to analyse profit and loss for each individual customer, brand and product, allowing effective planning to improve profitability.
As it is a modular programme, integreater® can interface with existing production systems and third party programmes to minimise business upheaval and cost. It has been designed for easy use by employees across the business, reducing the cost of staff training and employing specialists.
Integreater® ensures that food producers have the knowledge and visibility to adapt their processes to improve efficiency, accuracy and traceability. In an industry with notoriously tight operating and profit margins, this is becoming increasingly important.
Other Press Releases By This Company
- 29/09/2014 - Leading food technology firms team up again
- 05/02/2014 - New catering butchery software
- 17/10/2013 - JCS Fish invest in Integreater®
- 25/06/2013 - SI and Dimaco team up at meat event
- 21/03/2013 - Meat Awards entertainment sponsored by Systems Integration
- 20/03/2013 - Systems Integration launch Claim Management Software
- 09/07/2012 - SI raise money at charity auction
- 14/05/2012 - SI sponsor Meat Industry Awards
- 12/03/2012 - Systems Integration to exhibit at Foodex
- 15/12/2011 - SI launch new cheese grading application
- 08/09/2011 - Systems Integration talk traceability in Canada
- 05/08/2011 - SI reveal prize draw winner
- 23/05/2011 - Systems Integration to raise money for industry charity
- 17/05/2011 - Software firm raise money at SAMW auction
- 13/04/2011 - SAMW announce sponsors
- 17/03/2011 - Systems Integration sponsor meat industry awards
- 10/11/2010 - Integreater® rises to Government challenge
- 29/10/2010 - E-MES Integreater® gets the cream at dairy processors
- 26/08/2010 - Systems Integration launch Integreater® brand
