Food safety is a critical concern for manufacturers, especially as compliance regulations become more stringent under laws like the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). As seen in the unfortunate Boar’s Head listeria outbreak, even the smallest slip can have devastating consequences, leading to public health risks and significant business losses. But what if technology could help prevent such incidents? Enter AI-driven training tools, which can play a transformative role in ensuring compliance and safety across manufacturing operations.
The Compliance Challenge
In today’s regulatory landscape, food manufacturers must comply with evolving safety standards, which can be difficult to manage across a workforce that may have varying levels of experience and training. Traditional methods of teaching and knowledge retention—like manuals or on-site training—are time-consuming and often result in inconsistent application. In industries like food manufacturing, these gaps can be life-threatening, leading to contamination or improper food handling.
The food manufacturing industry is enormous, impacting not only the economy but public health. With 15.5 million people employed in this industry in the U.S., the sector’s influence is undeniable. Yet, this high-stakes industry also faces strict regulations that can be difficult to manage, especially when compliance failures can lead to devastating health risks. In this context, AI-driven training tools like DeepHow offer a transformative solution to enhance compliance, streamline training, and ultimately protect public safety.
How AI Training Tools Enhance Compliance
DeepHow offers a solution that directly addresses these challenges by improving how training is delivered, tracked, and retained. AI-powered training tools provide a new level of precision and consistency, ensuring that employees at every level are trained in the exact processes they need to follow for food safety.
Key Benefits:
- Consistency and Precision: AI-driven video training tools ensure that the exact same processes are demonstrated and communicated to every employee, avoiding discrepancies in understanding.
- On-Demand Access: Workers can access these training modules anytime, anywhere, ensuring they have the correct information even during critical moments, like a shift when supervisors aren't present. This addresses the common knowledge gaps that occur between shifts or during employee turnover.
- Faster Learning and Retention: DeepHow’s AI-based system offers video-based training that workers can watch repeatedly, improving retention rates. Research has shown that people retain 80% of what they watch compared to just 20% of what they read.
- Cost Savings: By reducing the need for in-person training sessions and limiting the downtime associated with under trained employees, AI-powered training tools can cut costs significantly, while maintaining critical safety standards.
AB-InBev Case Study: Preserving Knowledge to Maintain Standards
AB-InBev, the world's largest brewer, leverages DeepHow to capture critical processes and ensure operational consistency. As skilled laborers retired, AB-InBev faced the challenge of replacing them without sacrificing the knowledge they had accumulated. By using DeepHow’s AI-powered platform, they were able to accelerate the upskilling of new employees, significantly reducing the time needed to reach critical skill levels.
This model could easily be adapted to the food industry, ensuring that food handling, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance standards are preserved and followed exactly as required by food safety laws. AB-InBev has seen improvements in upskilling speed, reduced downtime, and a stronger overall compliance with operational procedures. These benefits translate directly to food manufacturers who are aiming to comply with complex regulatory standards while minimizing risk.
What If Boar’s Head Had DeepHow?
Imagine if Boar’s Head had implemented a similar AI-powered training platform. Training consistency would have ensured every employee handling food knew the precise steps to avoid contamination. Processes could have been reviewed regularly via video, ensuring that nothing critical—like maintaining cleanliness or ensuring proper refrigeration—is overlooked. Furthermore, as DeepHow allows quick updates and real-time video tutorials, employees would have had immediate access to updated protocols as regulations changed, making compliance not just a goal but an integral part of daily operations.
By implementing AI-based video training, food manufacturers can mitigate the risk of human error, a key factor in foodborne illness outbreaks. When training is accessible, up-to-date, and standardized across shifts and locations, the risk of contamination is significantly reduced.
A Holistic Approach to Food Safety
DeepHow is more than a training tool—it’s a comprehensive solution for ensuring food safety compliance. In the same way that AB-InBev optimized its operations by retaining expert knowledge, food manufacturers can leverage DeepHow’s AI-driven platform to capture essential processes, ensure consistent training, and improve overall operational safety.
As food safety regulations evolve, it is crucial for manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve. With AI-powered tools like DeepHow, compliance becomes a part of everyday operations, helping companies protect not just their bottom line, but also the lives of their customers.
