Estudo para a implementação do referencial IFS Food 6.1 com recurso ao software de gestão industrial e da qualidade Flow M

Abstract

Quality and food safety requirements are increasingly demanding, which implies more audits on food manufacturers. The Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), through their integrated approach, guarantee food safety at all stages of food supply. Currently, one of the most used FSMS schemes in the food sector is the International Featured Standards (IFS) Food, which stablishes a uniform evaluation system. IFS Food version 6.1 includes 281 requirements grouped into six chapters: senior management responsibility; quality and food safety management system; resource management; planning and production process; measurements, analysis and improvements and food defense. IFS Food certification allows companies to achieve excellence in quality and food safety, increase customer satisfaction and gain a competitive advantage in the market place. The growing digitization of the food industry has led to the introduction of intelligent production systems such as the Flow Manufacturing (Flow M) software from FoodInTech. This system controls all phases of the production process, guarantees traceability, increases productivity and product quality and reduces production costs. The objective of this work was to carry out a study for the implementation of IFS Food in a spices and aromatic herbs’ company, Navires, using the Flow M software. The work was structured in five phases. In phases 1 and 2, the study and participation in training on the standard and the software took place, respectively. In phase 3, the SGSA of Navires was analyzed and the IFS requirements were verified with the identification of the corresponding documentation and the creation of a checklist where each requirement was classified as "compliant", "not implemented" or "not applicable" (NA). Phase 4 corresponded to the implementation of the Flow M, where the documents collected were portrayed in the following modules: reception; productive processes; packaging; records; quality; incidences and documents. In phase 5, the document with the correspondence matrix between the IFS requirements, the Navires documents and the Flow modules was elaborated. 230 IFS requirements were fulfilled, 31 remained to be implemented and 20 were considered not applicable. The software was practically all parameterized and began to be used by employees and management. The company was equipped with an industrial management and food quality system and with most of the requirements of the IFS Food 6.1 standard implemented.

Date of Award	14 Mar 2022
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria João Monteiro (Supervisor)