FoodHorizon was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in College Station, TX. Westcar, a solutions development company, developed FoodHorizon to provide needed technology in automated data collection and information management for the food industry.

Who?

FoodHorizon is a company of food technology and information technology professionals. The Management Team combines the experience and training in food science and food processing with the experience and training in computer science and information management to provide services for food safety, quality and production to the food industry. A combined level of experience in the food industry and in the information management industry provides insight, hands-on experience and a knowledge level for presenting solutions to the data collection and information management needs of the food processing industry.

What?

FoodHorizon provides solutions to the recurring problems that exist within food processing facilities that relate to information required for processing and information generated during processing in quality control, food safety and Key Point Indicators for processing. FoodHorizon provides systems that change the dynamics of processing and in so doing improve the efficiencies of operation. The dynamics result in the elimination of errors, reduction in product waste, reducing the need for non-productive man-hours and improving the cost profile for the entire operation.

Technically, the FoodHorizon IT Team has developed discrete and unique functionality that in essence puts a Virtual Manager on the floor. However, the systems developed by FoodHorizon are not software. Software is an integral part of a system, but a system is a complete operation that entails the use of food professionals conducting an on-site survey and varied hardware specific to a distinct operation for data collection and reporting. It uses alarms and alerts for out of limit conditions and a trail with time stamps and digital signatures that can track the ordering of an ingredient to the shipping of a finished product and each and every control point being measured during that process. This is further enhanced by operational support that provides on-site training after installation, off-site IT support that eliminates the need for in-house IT backup, and continuous upgrading of systems to provide the latest technology.

How?

The Sentry9000 system is the premier system and the process begins with a thorough site survey by a FoodHorizon professional familiar with food safety, food quality and production techniques that go from Vendor through Customer. A review of all points being measured, how they are measured, what data is gained from the measurements and how this data is utilized is completed. A matrix is developed from the current situation and a solution is presented. The solution will eliminate all paperwork from the processing floor, will change the dynamics of processing, will eliminate errors in record keeping which will enhance productivity, and very importantly, food safety, by stricter regimentation. Data is collected and stored on site with a dedicated server.

Automated lot tracking can start at a vendor or at Receiving, storage parameters are monitored automatically, laboratory results automatically release or reject ingredients and product, batch records record individual ingredient weights and lot codes, temperatures, SPC for weights, line rate, production counts, product movement and more can all be monitored with Sentry9000. Additionally adjunct operations such as HACCP, Product Complaints, Sanitation Protocol, Allergen Management, Laboratory Information Management, Pest Control Management, Employee Training Record Management, Preventive Maintenance and Maintenance Management, Video Recording and virtually any other situation to be monitored can be addressed. All sections of Sentry9000 are tied together to provide a complete overall scenario of the operation on a product basis and on an operational basis.

The Centurion System was developed to provide solutions for the small food processor. It utilizes the power of the Internet and an off-site database. The Centurion system can be as a simple as a handheld computer with a temperature probe where data is collected and later downloaded to a database, or be a sophisticated system that can provide many of the capabilities of the Sentry9000 system.

The Sentinel system is designed for foodservice, restaurants and retail food operations. It provides a means to monitor the daily operations of an establishment serving food to the public and record the results of internal food safety audits that are outlined in the Food Code. The data is stored and a daily report is available on a designated website for each account. In addition, the past history is available on a daily basis by clicking on a calendar to retrieve the date or to use the Search function to select a range of dates for all or for specific items. The hardware for the Sentinel system is a handheld computer, a wireless sensor probe and a modem. There are numerous forms on the handheld and a personal web site for each account.

Why?

The food manufacturer will immediately see a change in the dynamics of processing. Man-hours used to gather information prior to work, during work and after work go away. All that information is available right now just where it is needed. The specifications are correct, the data to be collected is done automatically, time stamps insure timely data gathering, time alerts insure that if data is not collected at a preset time that people are aware, corrective action is required, time stamps and digital signature designate responsibility and action. The control point data creates a pedigree for each product of which parts can also be a digital Certificate of Analysis (COA) that can be shared with customers. The data is not just stored and reported. The Foodhorizon systems react to data.

Incident reporting is by exception. Silence is golden. Out of Limit conditions cause immediate corrective action protocol, and can generate emails, pagers and cell phone calls in escalating notification. The system requires a pro-active stance to correct problems before or as they occur, rather than in the more costly after-the-fact situation. The two ROI's are addressed - Return on Investment and Return on Intervention.

Record audits take minutes, not hours and days. Recall data is acquired in seconds, not hours. Data is always available at the click of a key on a keyboard. Data to be used for tracking trends, data for statistical analysis, and data for the information hungry management team is there to be analyzed and reported to provide many different looks at a process.