A highly innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) based label verification solution for the fresh produce pack-house has been announced by Consus Fresh Solutions.
The new solution could significantly reduce packhouse QC labour costs and boost operative productivity, whilst reducing Product Withdrawal Fines and associated costs due to labelling errors.
Label Verification is a time and labour-intensive process that is required at multiple points during the fresh produce packing process. A fresh produce packhouse QC operative completes an average of 200 label checks per day, using pen and paper data collection methods, at approximately two minutes per label check. Repetition and human fatigue introduce a high risk of “label blindness”, causing costly label errors to be missed and miss-labelled product reaching the supermarket shelves. Each un-detected error results in hefty fines, product re-work costs, loss of reputation and sometimes loss of contracts, not to mention the food safety risks from un-declared ingredients or allergens.
The highly innovative AI-based Consus Label Verification solution takes approximately four seconds to perform each label check. The solution uses Microsoft Azure cloud-based Artificial Intelligence to process each label photograph and returns an immediate pass or fail result. AI never experiences fatigue or loss of productivity, performing every check with the same speed and accuracy, whilst saving time and money.
A failure result will automatically halt production and issue automated alerts to relevant production staff with details of the failure. Similarly, a pass result can automatically trigger any “positive release” processes and progression to dispatch.
Peter Taylor, Technical Director and Co-Founder at Consus Fresh Solutions, says: “This launch marks the culmination of an extensive technology development project and underpins Consus’ commitment to supply innovative solutions to meet both the requirements of the produce industry and also our goal to provide the latest technological solutions to drive efficiency, productivity, compliance and profitability in all our customers.”
The solution can check any labelling information against a centrally stored repository of client and product specific labelling requirements, including:
- country of origin
- picked from location
- product description
- best before date
- display until date
- product class
- destination customer
- special offers
- allergen advice
The Consus Label Verification solution comes at an affordable monthly subscription price based on transactions, and can operate as a standalone tool, or be seamlessly used with existing Consus Packhouse solutions, or fully integrated via an API into existing production management or ERP solutions. In addition, the solution requires minimal installation and training and utilises off the shelf hardware, allowing for cost effective, rapid rollout and support.