VisionPDM

VisionPDM is a multi-lingual product specification software for product R&D, recipe development, definition and production management for process manufacturing in the food and beverage industry.

VisionPDM was conceived by food and IT industry professionals as a result of implementing many product specification systems in the food industry and the lack of available systems to assist “real world” product development processes that could also be linked with integrated systems for purchasing, manufacturing planning and control.

A simple yet powerful drawing tool is used to construct a graphical picture of the process flow and the innovative software creates a database for the development of products incorporating nutritional information, detailed product costing, and a host of physical, chemical, biological and user defined parameters. In addition the software can store customer details enabling the build up of details relating the parameters, preferences and processes associated with specific customers.

A series of easy to use screens and logical menus will aid the user to set up the production specifications accurately and rapidly. All materials, labour, machines, ancillaries and flow steps such as standing time, chilling time etc are defined and with direct costs, overheads, timings, and yields held against each step it takes just a moment to calculate and re-calculate accurate cost totals as each recipe and production flow evolves. Optional links to the McCance and Widowson database (amongst others) ensure a full nutritional roll-up is available which can be also be used as the basis for pack labelling.

The software integrates with VisionNPD which enables the manufacture to electronically collaborate with suppliers to agree formal specifications for any new raw materials required by the recipe. VisionNPD also permits the design and control of the Stage gate process and the adoption of your preferred sign off rules via a fully customisable workflow using electronic forms. Links to ERP systems allow the automatic set up of new raw material items for purchasing purposes and BOM’s for the manufacture of new products.

In addition VisionPDM incorporates multiple UOM conversions, multiple packaging specs, grades and potency. It can also produce batch numbers for inclusion on printable production sheets to enable production personnel to manufacture the products taking into account any appropriate UOM and quantity to scale production batches to better fit manufacturing requirements.

Direct integration with VisionTQM enables Technical to take the new recipe flows from VisionPDM and automatically apply the Codex decision tree questions for full HACCP compliance. VisionTQM speedily identifies the CCP’s, QA and Process Control Points necessary to ensure food safety and quality and manages the control methods, critical limits and corrective actions using interactive paperless shop floor data collection.