Improving the information flow internal and external traceability in a slaughterhouse

Abstract

Several global aspects are affecting the world's food supply chain. In this study a slaughterhouse was used as a "laboratory" to get conclusions that can be applied to all the meat industry and in other automated industries. The aim is to provide tools to solve this gap. The global standards for traceability are now beginning to evolve in the market place, and as a result, early adopters and standard setters will take a lead role and the advantages that come from it. The focus is to describe relevant references that help to support the approaches and to support the recommendations, with the tools for a suitable decision analysis. This analysis considers the RFID identification of each unique "Christmas-tree", and the Physical Marking of the "Christmas-trees" as the most relevant approaches in the long term. The Bar-code identification before shipping is also a pertinent approach, especially in the short term.