Galbusera has chosen Datalogic to ensure track and trace operations for its products and guarantee its customers the highest security and quality.
The Galbusera family has been producing baked products from many generations. In fact, in 1938 the first coffee-house and pastry-store was opened in Morbegno, Italy, and it was in 1945 that the production of the first craft-biscuits began. In the following years sales grew and new factories were opened and production was transformed from crafted to industrial level. Today, the company offers five different lines of products which are sold both in Italy and abroad.
Laws on Food Traceability
Over the last few years operators in the food chain have been requested to adapt to the changes imposed by major chains in the FMGC distribution and regulations by the EC. In addition on 1st January 2005 new regulations (EC 178/2002) came into effect which made it obligatory for the whole food supply chain to implement a tracking system. Even Galbusera, which has always used the latest systems to guarantee the highest security and quality of its products, has implemented an integrated solution for the total tracking of its production, both in it factory and distribution centres. To achieve this, Galbusera has chosen a tracking system developed by AGRItrace (Itworks) which uses Datalogic’s bar code readers and mobile computers to handle data collection and communicate with the central IT system.
The Tracking Solution
The system which has been chosen ensures track and trace operations and reconstructs the product history by identifying and recording all activities, materials and matters that have been used in its production. This solution interfaces directed with the pre-existing IT system based on AS400 and is fed by a filed system that uses Datalogic’s latest technologies for automatic identification and is made up of a hardware and software infrastructure for data collection operations during production and in the warehouse.
How the System Works
Goods-Receiving Warehouse with the Viper RF mobile computer from Datalogic the operator identifies the packaging of the raw material to be used in the production process. The system confirms that the correct ingredients have been picked and the database is updated so that it is possible to see at any moment which raw materials have been used in any individual lot and all the related information. Inventory is updated in real-time with the Viper and stock levels are keep under control as well as the expiry date, so that Galbusera can optimise the use of perishable goods to reduce the quantity of goods that have to be discarded.
Production
In the production process the STAR-System narrow band radio solution from Datalogic is used; in particular the F725-E/RF mobile computer together with seven Star-Gate access points. The operator uses the F725- E/RF to check that the raw materials which are added to the dough-making lines comply with the product being made and with the production scheduling. It is also used to control that the correct raw materials are added to the pre-baked products and that these are subsequently transferred to the correct containers. At the end of line, the DS4600 fixed position scanner from Datalogic identifies the boxes which have already been labelled and controls that they are placed on the correct pallets.
Finished-Goods Warehouse
The Viper is used to associate the picking lists for the customers with each carton or pallet and ensure that no information which could be useful for traceability goes lost. Based on the picking notes, the pallets and cartons are picked and the Viperâ„¢ transmits this data to the IT system, so that the operator can check that the quantity picked corresponds to the requested amount and that the expiry date is still within the foreseen limits. The products are then loaded onto lorries and with the Viper the operator checks that the products sent to each customer correspond in typology and quantity with those that have been ordered.
Advantages for Galbusera
With this tracking system Galbusera can assure its customers the wholesomeness and safety of the food. Should products be identified as not being completely in conformity with all the prerequisites, it is possible to identify the components and lot from which the product originates, the materials used in each phase of the production cycle and the supplier to be able to discover the cause of the problem and resolve it quickly.
This solution interfaces directed with the pre-existing IT system based on AS400 and is fed by a filed system that uses Datalogic’s latest technologies for automatic identification and is made up of a hardware and software infrastructure for data collection operations during production and in the warehouse.
