Hi-tech Processing

Assignment:

You are given a task to built the most hi-tech poultry processing plant in the world. You have been asked to prepare a report on 5 new technologies to be included in poultry processing area which are being used in other industries. Describe each technology, write how it can be used in the poultry industry and how it can benefit the industry.

Explanation:

Hyperspectral imaging system

The first technology that I would recommend including in the processing plant would be a hyperspectral imaging system. This technology is capable of providing a real-time scan of carcasses for fecal contamination, after they go through evisceration. It is a combination of imaging and spectroscopy that uses wavelengths of light to pinpoint contaminates on the carcass. This technology could be utilized to provide scans of carcasses to check for fecal contamination. This would reduce the need for a person standing on the line continuously checking carcasses. This technology would also help to eliminate time spent having to do reworks on the carcasses at the end of processing by finding them earlier. .

Thermal Processing Technology

Another useful technology that could be incorporated into the processing plant is a thermal processing technology. This technology could greatly reduce the contamination of the carcass in the processing plant. The carcass is exposed to heat for a short period of time, and the carcass is cooled afterwards. This technology, if used correctly, could reduce the need for chemicals in the process of microbial growth. The heat from steam, or another source, could clean the carcass very rapidly and then the carcass could be cooled to prevent premature cooking of the product. The poultry carcasses could undergo this thermal processing before being chilled. This technology would reduce and control the microbial growth, greatly reducing the growth of microbials on the meat and the amount of recalls that the company experiences.

X-ray scanners

This technology would be very beneficial in the processing of poultry, and it would lead to a hi-tech plant that would be very efficient. This technology, which is used in the pork processing industry, would provide valuable insight into potential harmful contents of the meat. The x-ray scanner technology provides a user with a real-time x-ray of the meat under examination and displays that on a screen. The x-ray could be present on the line to exam the carcass or parts after processing. This would provide an image to an inspector that could remove any potential undesirable contents. The x-ray would show if the meat contained bone fragments, metal, or any other contents that could cause a potential recall. This would save the company from distributing a product that contained a potentially harmful particle.

Automatic Cutting Machines

This is a technology that is used in the pork processing industry. This technology would be harder to implement than the other technologies, but it would be a very beneficial and useful technology. This technology would take more engineering, but it could be a great asset to the poultry industry. This technology uses measurements of the pork carcass to make precise cuts on the pork carcass. It positions that carcass and moves the blade depending on the measurements obtained. This technology could be utilized for cut-ups in the poultry industry. This technology could obtain measurements and make cuts to the thighs and drumstick. This technology would reduce the amount of people using dangerous equipment daily in order to obtain the poultry parts. This would also improve the efficiency and accuracy of the cutting if programmed correctly.

Robotics

Robotics are one of the newest technologies that are being incorporated into the food industry. The new capability of robots to meet food-safety standards has increased their popularity in the food industry. The use of robotics also reduces the contamination of meat by human contact. The robots are utilized in other industries for packaging and to transfer meat parts to other equipment for processing. This technology could be very beneficial in the poultry industry for the hanging of birds and carcasses. The robots could be used for live-hang or re-hang. This use of the robots could increase the efficiency of hanging. The robots could also be used to transfer carcasses, which could include those that need to be re-worked. The use of robots would decrease the amount of people needed to carry-out the strenuous job of hanging birds for hours a day. This would increase efficiency and reduce the accident of injury.