What to Consider When Building a Food Manufacturing Facility
Whether you’re building a food manufacturing plant from the ground up or you’re expanding a current facility because business is booming, there are crucial design elements to consider. Food and beverage processing facilities must take safety, contamination, and efficiency seriously. Knowing what to consider when building a food manufacturing facility will help you cover all your bases. Follow our guide below to learn more.
A Sequential Layout Leads to an Efficient Company
Regardless of the industry, many manufacturing facilities make a common mistake—their floor layout isn’t sequential. If your process requires going from station A, to station B, and finally to station C, your layout should be set up as so. Not B, A, C, or any other variation, as that would be an inefficient setup. Your process should be seamless for workers, and having the stations in order will significantly improve your facility’s efficiency.
Cleaning and Sanitation Areas
The sanitation of a food manufacturing facility is nonnegotiable. That said, your facility should have several cleaning and sanitation areas for both workers and products. The reason employees need a cleaning station is because they could arrive to work with dirt and debris on their hands, shoes, and clothing, which could lead to contaminating products. To maximize your space, many facilities include employee sanitation areas in locker rooms where workers can get into their uniforms. Additionally, your facility should have numerous cleaning areas that allow workers to easily access cleaning materials and equipment.
High-Quality Equipment
While the manufacturing equipment itself is very important, you can’t forget about the equipment that allows your facility to operate. In food and beverage manufacturing specifically, you must consider the design of your process piping. Moreover, industrial facilities are susceptible to using excessive amounts of energy, so you should ensure the majority of your equipment is energy-efficient. Furthermore, you should put a substantial focus on your employees’ comfort by installing a new HVAC system, for example. If your employees are comfortable and happy, they’re more likely to work harder and more efficiently.
While we discussed a few considerations when building a food manufacturing facility, you must ensure you’re researching local regulations. Specifically for a food processing plant, you’ll need to work with the FDA, USDA, OSHA, and CFAN. If you fail to meet regulations, you’ll likely receive a fine and potentially be shut down by authorities.
