Siemens and EnteGreat Unveil Software Tool Designed for Food Safety and HACCP Compliance

Complying with Hazard Analysis and Critical Point (HACCP) regulations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been simplified thanks to a HACCP software tool developed by Siemens Energy & Automation and systems integrator EnteGreat.

Based on Siemens SIMATIC IT® MES software platform, the new IT tool gives food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers a fully integrated and complete commercial off-the-shelf enterprise information technology for HACCP compliance.

“By implementing this new electronic-based HACCP solution, companies will dramatically reduce compliance costs,” said Maryanne Steidinger, Siemens U.S. MES marketing manager. “They will also substantially increase reporting accuracy with the tool’s electronic work instructions and automated compliance reporting.”

Now available worldwide, the software tool has been developed in conjunction with a leading U.S. Fortune 50 food, beverage, and CPG company. Steidinger said feedback from the company has been incorporated into the software.

Standard Components, Valuable Features

The SIMATIC IT HACCP tool is available with standard components, making deployment faster and more efficient, as well as making the software adaptable to IT and business process changes. Features of the SIMATIC IT tool for HACCP compliance include:

•A work flow enabled process, with escalation based on urgency and time frame priorities

•An Enterprise Master Data Management solution that streamlines the challenges of managing master data in a multi-vendor IT architecture

•Task-based work instructions to help enforce procedural compliance

•Time, Event and Production based scheduling that provides flexibility while covering all conditions

•A broad range of role-based approval capabilities, supporting multi-level e-signature capability

•A baseline of record keeping that establishes the product genealogy necessary to support the HACCP program

•Integrated full 21 CFR Part 11 compliance capabilities, useful for future requirements or diversification

Support for CAPA and Continuous Improvement Programs

The SIMATIC IT tool for HACCP compliance provides the foundation to implement Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) and supports continuous improvement programs by providing the necessary tools to capture and analyze critical process information. Using accurate and actionable real time information, the tool collects and manages the data required to improve processes, including:

•Task-based work instructions for implementing detailed corrective action plans and monitoring the status of corrective actions

•Electronic signatures supporting 21 CFR Part 11, ensuring only authorized personnel are performing tasks and providing a “done by, checked by” capability

•Automatic rule-based notifications allowing the escalation of tasks that have exceeded permissible time limits, or when other conditions have been met that should initiate escalation

•Decision support with root cause analysis capability allowing comprehensive analysis of information collected during the processes

Out of the Box Reporting

Regulated business processes require evidence that all process steps and actions have been completed. The SIMATIC IT tool provides several distinct advantages over traditional paper based reporting, including:

•Comprehensive compliance driven baseline reports demonstrating HACCP compliance for government regulators

•Template driven report generation with simplified corporate or local customization capabilities

•Web based reporting delivering the cost advantages of thin-client deployment and maintenance

•Role based views allowing the system to fit the organization and adapt as roles and responsibilities change

•Enterprise based views supporting corporate-wide deployment and visibility

About EnteGreat

Through manufacturing consulting and systems integration, EnteGreat serves primarily Fortune 500 manufacturing companies across North America. Rather than offering just technical solutions, EnteGreat focuses on helping clients implement supply chain and manufacturing IT systems that deliver measurable business outcomes from the project conception stage to world-wide roll out. The company helps its clients develop and implement continuous improvement strategies for both manufacturing and supply chain operations that are facilitated by information systems solutions. EnteGreat is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, with operations across North America. For more information on EnteGreat: www.entegreat.com  

About Siemens

Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. is one of Siemens’ operating companies in the U.S. Headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Ga., Siemens Energy & Automation manufactures and markets one of the world’s broadest ranges of electrical and electronic products, systems and services to industrial and construction market customers. Its technologies range from circuit protection and energy management systems to process control, industrial software and totally integrated automation solutions. The company also has expertise in systems integration, technical services and turnkey industrial systems. For more information: www.sea.siemens.com .

Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $91.5 billion in fiscal 2004. Founded more than 150 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $16.6 billion and employs 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens` worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 430,000 people in 192 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com .