5 replies to this topic

[MDaleDDF]

We have large metal things we call carts (not really carts but whatever).    When we discharge mixers into transfer bags, they're stacked on these carts before they head to the packaging line.   A batch may take up anywhere from 1-10 carts.   Since forever we label what product they are by taping a tag to each cart with the product code on it.    It has always sucked, and brings the risk of tape and paper into the equation.  I actually got a minor NC due to tape elsewhere in the facility, and I feel it's a matter of time before an auditor doesn't like the tape on carts thing.

I've been rackin my brain tryin to come up with a way to ditch the paper, that isn't even worse as far as a foreign material risk, etc.

Anybody got any awesome ideas or examples of what you guys do?    

[TimG]

Are the carts metal (magnetic) and is there a spot? In a previous facility we had to move away from toe tags and one of the options (we didn't go with it) was magnetic wax pen placard that sticks on the side of the totes. The idea was production would fill in the wax pen info and stick it (magnetically) to the tote of product. We were even going to get a special magnetic base thingy on the side of those totes.

What we ended up doing was heavy duty document holders that folded in on the edge because that seemed to be the better solution since it would work with our super sacks as well. 

Maybe either of those would work for you.

[GMO]

Get a permanent food safe barcode on those carts and scanning the lot to that barcode. But that has cost implications as you'd need a system which can handle the data and they can end up spendy.

 

Or have a wipe clean surface that is robust and permanent that you then write on with permanent pen then write down the details once it's used, wipe off the writing (permanent pen will come off with some wipes) and reuse. Or you can get metal detectable rewritable tags for this. Food Safe Detectable Plastic Tags 265mm - Blue - [DT-550-A65-P01-S074]

 

Or get disposable tags which are robust and metal detectable, like these so at least the foreign matter risk is lower. BST Metal Detectable Heat Resistant Loop Tags – Large (Pack of 500)

I'm sure others will have good ideas. These are the only ones I can think of.

[MDaleDDF]

The carts are aluminum so can't magnet stuff to um.  Besides, they get bumped around and slammed around pretty good and i don't know if that'd hold up.

I do like the look of those BST loop tags GMO, those are pretty rad....I'm gonna look into those, thanks yall!

[jfrey123]

I think each cart should be permanently numbered in some way, then you're able to reference them in your master sanitation or other cleaning records.  It's fine to label the totes themselves as part of your production process for your interior traceability.  In the past I've had no issues with simple stickers on the cart, especially if you're stating the carts only job is to carry a super sack of product and isn't direct product contact itself.

[Jersey Cows]

We use laminated placards to identify product batch numbers ect. They can be written on with dry erase marker and wiped off and sanitized for future use. The placard can be placed on the cart instead of attached to it, preventing tape from getting in your product. I'm not sure what color your product is but the use of a bright colored paper can help lower the risk of foreign material going unnoticed.