Released on: July 3, 2008, 6:44 am

Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: Baking & Snack Magazine Profiles Statistical Process Control
by Hertzler

Press Release Body: Hertzler Systems (www.hertzler.com) provides seamless, accurate
data acquisition solutions that drive business transformation. The company provides
the leading real-time data acquisition and analytics software, the GainSeeker Suite.
This powerful and flexible system is best used by lean and progressive companies.
Gainseeker Suite allows companies to connect with devices and other information
systems, collecting data and alarming key personnel when problems arise; this
technology allows organizations to analyze data for root cause problems, converting
data into knowledge.


Manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, profiles the "Quality, Compliance, and
the Bottom-line" in the current issue of Baking & Snack magazine. According to
Cutler, "The first task of any net contents program is to meet the requirements of
NIST Handbook 133 and other governmental regulations for compliance to net content
declarations on packaged goods. However, the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) 133 standards do not specify limits for overfilling; that becomes
a costly challenge for baking and snack firms. Fill weights must be above the
maximum allowable variance (MAV) but as close as possible to the label declaration.
The classic method of meeting the regulation is to shift the curve up, so that the
average is at or above label, and the lower tail is just above MAV. SPC technology
solutions allow bakeries to tighten the curve so that there are no MAVs and less
overpack. Streamlining data collection by connecting directly to all brands and
models of scales and balances provides either simple or complex calculations to
derive volume, whether immediate or "roaded." As each new measurement is entered
into the system, real-time statistical tests to this data will immediately alert
production if a process change is detected. Beyond reacting to real-time alerts,
powerful analysis tools to pinpoint sources of variation in the baking and fill
processes make it easy to discover which fill heads, material suppliers, operators,
product lines and other variables have the greatest impact on process variation -
individually or in combination. Armed with this information, bakers are making
better decisions on process improvements that reduce process variation and shift
average fills weights closer to the declared label weights."



Reducing overpacking and material costs at the same time is becoming vital as
ingredient costs continue to rise. "When baking companies overpack, they are giving
money to their customers, and when they under fill, they are giving money to the
regulators," said Evan J. Miller, president, Hertzler Systems, Goshen, IN. The
company's SPC system GainSeeker monitors this process and demonstrates that
overpacking is just giving away product. In high-volume operations, this quickly
adds up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. If bakeries under fill, the
fines and damage to company reputation are even more costly.

One reason why SPC solutions are widely used in the baking (and other food and
packaging industries) is that they easily convert raw data (such as overpack
weights) into something everyone. The entire feature can be read at
http://trcutlerinc.com/Baking%20&%20Snack%20Magazine%20WCS%20SPC%20June%2008.pdf.



Hertzler Systems Inc.
www.hertzler.com
Adrienne DePew
Communications Manager
info@hertzler.com
800.958.2709


Web Site: http://www.hertzler.com

Contact Details: Hertzler Systems
2312 Eisenhower Dr. N.
Goshen, IN 46526
800-958-2709