Posts Tagged ‘Escape’

Business Excellence Profiles Escape Velocity Systems as Leading ERP for Baked Goods Sector

Nov 14, 2010 American Bakery

According to Evan Garber, president of Bakery ERP specialists Escape Velocity Systems (EVS), “The unusual production characteristic for most bakeries is the practice of frequently mixing dough in a small kettle; many doughs are then used in one batch run. For each batch of dough the production team is aware of the ingredient lot number, but at the other end of the production line, quality control typically goes though a process of elimination to determine from which dough their test samples came.”

In the feature entitled, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker, Escape Velocity Systems (www.evs-sw.com) is profiled as the leader among ERP vendors who serve this niche market. In the current issue of Business Excellence, the article authored by manufacturing journalist TR Cutler, details the nuances of the technology requirements of the baked goods sector.

Bakery ingredient items can be given lot attributes which can be entered by the QC department, however. Since flour is typically the key ingredient, most bakeries have to analyze the properties of each flour lot to determine absorption rates to maintain high quality standards. Getting the correct moisture in batches is an art with scientific elements.

Flour lot #1 has attribute absorption of ten and Flour lot #2 has attribute absorption of eight. These attributes stay with the lot throughout production life and can be used by production planners to estimate a compensating water content needed for a batch. “It’s important to track lot expiration dates,” Garber noted. “QC must also be able to determine that the real expiry date is different than the date calculated for a batch and be able to change it. The most important factor is that QC must be completely integrated with the rest of the organization’s ERP shelf life. Many bakeries’ QC departments are on separate systems, including Excel spreadsheets. The value proposition that bakery technology solutions must bring to food safety and quality is that QC is integrated with the rest of the ERP.”

Indeed if QC determines that a lot is bad and records it in the system, the lot is automatically put on hold and cannot be used in manufacturing or shipped out. If QC tests for attributes of a lot and records them in a bakery specific technology solution, the production planner can see the attributes of the lot and plan for compensating ingredients (such as water or gluten). Shelf stability and expiration date management applies to many food products, none more than baked goods.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests the grain category is the largest segment of American dietary consumption, encouraging consumers to eat at least five ounces of grain products every day. From snack cakes, energy bars, cookies, crackers, rolls, donuts, pastries, pie, pizza crusts, cakes and muffins, and fortified breakfast cereals, bakery manufacturing covers a very broad range of foods. Since the average American eats more than 50 pounds of bread and more than a 100 pounds of cereal each year, it represents billions of dollars in revenue for bakers; the worldwide market for bakery products is now greater than $300 billion annually. “Serving this large and lucrative market requires knowledge of bakery management and maintenance of hygienic production of baked goods,” insisted Garber. “Sanitation processes, allergen control programs and bioterrorism defense strategies must be well defined and followed to ensure the bakery and the public are not at risk.” Generic technology solutions for the food sector will not suffice; hyper-vertical applications are necessary to meet the mandated compliance requirements from BioTerrorism Act to HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points).


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Accounting Software 411 Looks at Escape Velocity Systems Auditing and Security for Process Manufacturers

Nov 12, 2010 Bakery Recipes

When one food manufacturer has to contend with hundreds of recipes, ingredient variations, and multiple batches in a single production run, the possibilities for errors are enormous. Seemingly at odds, lean manufacturing principles call for productivity gains which are increasingly dependant upon speeding up the flow of sensitive data throughout the enterprise. This paradox is felt most significantly by thin margined formula-based food processors; according to manufacturing journalist Thomas R. Cutler who recently profiled the role of advanced auditing and security for the process manufacturing sector in the January issue of Accounting Software 411.

While discrete manufacturing systems are generally designed around a bill of material containing whole, or discrete quantities of materials (such as 1 axle, 2 tires), process manufacturing systems are driven by formulas (such as 90% water, 10% flavoring.) Process manufacturers usually blend or mix materials rather than cutting, shaping, or assembling hard goods. Hybrid manufacturers combine process and discrete components. A good example would be a cosmetic company that mixes a batch of lip stick bulk and fills the bulk into a base container (process manufacturing), then assembles this into a finished product with a packaging and label bill of material (discrete manufacturing).

Like the Colonel’s secret recipe, proprietary data is managed through an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system which must be guarded from malicious data tampering. As with regulations, like Sarbanes-Oxley, companies are held accountable for the data that is produced from their ERP system; few have the necessary tools to ensure that the data is managed appropriately by the authorized personnel (although most make claims to the contrary.)

According to Evan Garber, President of Escape Velocity Systems (www.evs-sw.com), which specializes in formula-based process manufacturing, “Advanced auditing and security functionality is not simply preventing unauthorized data manipulation…risk management, it provides a context for a data management plan that includes process improvement.”

Advanced Auditing and Security Drives Continued Process Improvement

Some of the features that technology solutions must provide, particularly among process manufacturers include:

• User accountability for one’s actions

• Managing ancillary attached data (such as Excel or Word attachments) through an approval, lockdown, and version control process

• Managing efficiency of electronic document handling

The term escape velocity refers to the speed that is necessary for an object to overcome gravity and soar into space. EVS provides direct applications for businesses looking for a catalyst, not just a software package. Process manufacturers require the best software solution coupled with industry experience that will accelerate the velocity with which they race towards their goals. The gravity of status-quo opposes aggressive, cutting edge organizations as they strive towards high quality and short lead time delivery while reducing inventories and operating costs.

The entire article may be read at http://www.accountingsoftware411.com/Press/PressDocView.aspx?docid=9402.


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    Escape Velocity Systems President Evan Garber Redefines Process Manufacturing Software Solutions

    Oct 25, 2010 American Bakery

    Evan Garber is president and co-founder of Escape Velocity Systems (www.evs-sw.com) since 2001. Garber co-founded EVS with the sole mission of providing industry leading process manufacturing software solutions to the small and mid-size market space. Since then EVS has developed two major projects: ProVisio WMS and O2 Process Manufacturing for MAS 500. Garber’s role with these projects was to analyze and assimilate market requirements, test software functionality, develop a value-added reseller channel, strategic market positioning and to uncover new opportunities to improve the systems. Director of North American sales of the O2 Process Manufacturing System for MAS 500, Garber began consulting in process manufacturing in 1997 where he was a reseller and implementer of various process manufacturing solutions.

    Process Manufacturing describes a manufacturing process whereby materials are blended, cooked, or mixed as opposed to assembled from discrete units. Some needs common to process manufacturing industries are:

    • Formulas (or recipes) are ratios, not static bills of material

    • Split bill of material: several products can share one formula, yet have different packaging

    • Flexibility with units of measure

    • Stringent quality control, with recall ability

    • Lot grading / attribute tracking and calculation

    Escape Velocity Systems (EVS) was formed in 2001 to combine specific industry knowledge related to process manufacturing, distribution, and ERP implementations with cutting edge software development. The company focus is to create tools that enable mid-market enterprises to achieve their goals, focusing on lean processes and ROI. According to President Evan Garber, “We realize that good ERP software is the hub of information in any process manufacturing enterprise. Timely, reliable, and centralized data are non-negotiable elements for businesses competing in the 21st century.”

    The term escape velocity refers to the speed that is necessary for an object to overcome gravity and soar into space. EVS provides direct applications for businesses looking for a catalyst, not just a software package. Process manufacturers require the best software solution coupled with industry experience that will accelerate the velocity with which they race towards their goals. The gravity of status-quo opposes aggressive, cutting edge organizations as they strive towards high quality and short lead time delivery while reducing inventories and operating costs.


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