TROPOS is a powerful and flexible ERP system, widely used in the UK food and drinks industries. TROPOS has been developed for regulated, short-cycle demand-driven manufacturing using the process model. This makes it ideal for food processors and packers, particularly those supplying the major retailers or those distributing short shelf-life products.

Baked Products

Baked products includes many different types of sweet and savoury food products, but with one common process stage – baking. These are typically, but not exclusively, breads, cakes, pastries, pies, pizzas and the many international and speciality baked products that are proving increasingly popular. This sector has followed the consumer trend for high quality fresh products sold through the major retailers. This growth sector now has many more product ranges, and as with other food processors, has to contend with the challenges of producing goods for a more informed and discerning consumer.

TROPOS features that support the manufacture of short shelf-life food products are ideally suited for manufacturers of baked products. However, these processors have functional requirements in addition to those required for other food products.

• Order-less manufacturing for in-plant supply of key
  ingredients such as dough and pastry
• “Day one for day two” order and delivery processing
• Timed and rate-based manufacture with “demand-pull” from assembly lines to intermediate processes.
• Process routes allowing for fixed-time process (ovens) regardless of quantity
• Retailer-specific packing and labelling
• Yield and waste management

Organic products, allergen-free products and increasing interest in international cuisine creates both opportunities and challenges for this sector. Baked products are supplied to retail and foodservice customers, and can be chilled (short shelf-life), fresh ambient packaged or frozen.

Many manufacturers of baked products have automated process plants but certain operations rely on a high degree of labour-intensive processes. Integration with automated process plants and tight control of manual activities can result in significantly improved visibility of in-plant operations leading to valuable efficiency and productivity gains.