Wexford, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/18/2011 -- Lucas Systems, Inc., (http://www.lucasware.com) the leading provider of voice-directed warehouse applications for open, mobile computers, was recently profiled by Manufacturing Journalist TR Cutler in the current issue of the Global Food Safety Resource Centre Newsletter. Voice-Picking Solutions Critical in Traceability examines the effectiveness of voice picking to handle a recall is quite distinct from a pick to light solution. When food items are sent to hundreds of different restaurants, the food distribution center or manufacturing plant must be able to quickly and accurately identify which lots each location receives. Lot traceability is mandated by the Bioterrorism Act rules; it is further detailed in the new Food Safety Modernization Act. Additionally HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) procedures may require that voice picking will enter a lot number at the time of the pick. Voice picking solutions address all three of these compliance statutes, and are frequently being used by food organizations as part of the ISO 22000 documentation of quality processes and procedures to manage a recall.

“It's not just about the quality of the food product picked,” asserts Jeff Slevin, COO of Lucas Systems (www.lucasware.com), makers of Jennifer VoicePlus. “The product traceability initiatives in grocery and food service must be able to track the date an item is produced for expiration when shipped from a distribution center.” While some customers will accept a product within thirty days of expiration, others might only accept within sixty days of expiration date. Because of this critically important variability, capturing date information when picking with a voice system as compared to light – is often preferred. Many foodservice companies continue to apply labels to cases, even as they pick the item with voice – the label is used on delivery at the customer location.

The advantage of voice systems is that they combine the advantages of voice and RF in a single, seamless process. Slevin insists, “In a voice system food distribution companies capture the date code, an employee with a headset simply goes to the location, say picking item, and the solution, such as Jennifer, says enter date; the person reads in date, and captures that information at the point of pick.“ Date tracking is less of a regulatory mandate than a customer mandate because some customers will not take a product within thirty days of expiration.