Introducing traceability in the Indian Surimi supply chain

Abstract

Fish being a perishable material inclined to denaturation obliges extreme care methodically from the time of harvest till processing. Actions such as inappropriate handling trailed by growing food borne diseases have been the most common causes of food contamination. Escalating global consumer demands for higher quality has stood as a serious threat to the rising Surimi export market in the country, demanding a revamp of the quality essentials of the supplied raw material. Surimi produced from raw materials of inferior quality can lead to a multitude of consequences, the grander being the recall of the entire lot produced from the market triggering huge expenses for the producing industry. Although such events are highly undesirable, there has been a sheer need to decrease the likelihood of such mishaps. Applying traceability along the supply chain not only confirms a possible solution for the problem but also introduces a quality outlook in the Indian Surimi supply chain. A precise technique of improvising the current system would be through information technology (IT) investment for restructuring the Indian Surimi supply chain to global standards and refining quality. This study analyses the supply side of the Indian Surimi supply chain using Value stream mapping (VSM) as a tool tracked by the use of Kanban’s to increase visibility for enhancement of quality and customer satisfaction.