How to Comply With New Food Labeling Requirements

And having such a wide range of hardware also impacts integration with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Multi-location manufacturers often handle printer integration with MES on the local level. This means many local system integrators are subcontracted to build integrations, and they have to provide local IT support.

To further complicate things, many companies don’t integrate direct marking devices with business systems because the lot and expiration date information that is commonly printed is seen as minimal and not worth the complex integration. Each location might use a different integration method, making standardization and support a challenge. Local production sites might choose varying levels of integration and introduce manual data entry on standalone systems.

For those organizations that want to integrate all of their labeling requirements with master data to respond to changing regulatory compliance and consumer demands, a modern labeling system is the answer.

Digitally Transforming the Labeling Process

A modern label management system enables manufacturers to implement a standardized and controlled method for producing labels or marking packaging throughout the entire organization. It involves having a centralized web-based document management system where labels and history are kept. Local facilities can use templates to produce the labels they need, and all changes and updates are done centrally and pushed out to the individual factories.

The most effective label management systems are able to interface with a variety of labeling and direct marking printers, regardless of manufacturer. They can also integrate direct marking and labeling with the master data in business systems to eliminate manual data entry errors. This saves companies the cost associated with reworking labels or discarding product, decreases the upfront investment companies have to make to standardize, and increases their ability to roll out a unified label process throughout their organization. Implementing a label management system is the key to creating a more productive, agile, and efficient organization.

A disconnected label-printing environment results in a time-consuming and costly process that requires users to create multiple label variations for each product, which are often manually entered. This has an obvious effect on efficiencies, and errors are also more likely to occur. However, a modern label management solution allows labels to be updated from one central location and makes it easier to identify any label errors by integrating labeling with an MES or ERP system. This makes it easier for users to have “single-source-of-truth” master data and allows them to preview any changes prior to printing. Modern systems also allow specific user roles and issue unique logins for each user, providing greater transparency across all factories that produce the product. This means that, when responding to new regulatory requirements, adjustments only need to be made in one place, saving time when new products need to be incorporated as a result of a merger or acquisition.

Improving Cost Efficiencies

The costs associated with the labeling process aren’t always easy to quantify. While the obvious ones such as the cost of the printers and software are easy to identify, other costs associated with label change requests and quality assurance aren’t so obvious. But these costs can have a dramatic impact on the bottom line.

Implementing a label management system can save countless man-hours and increase employee productivity by using pre-made templates and streamlining the whole quality assurance process. Digitally transforming the labeling process eliminates manual data entry, which drastically reduces the likelihood of errors and therefore mitigates product quarantine, recalls, and scrappage, leading to cost savings. In addition, standardizing on a system that can work across a wide range of label and marking printers enables businesses to continue to use their existing hardware. And selecting a system with a familiar user interface, particularly one that has a Microsoft Word look and feel, means that anyone can quickly design professional labels without barcoding, design, or advanced computer skills.