If you go to almost any forum, conference or trade show relating to our industry, you will find an overwhelming amount of conjecture and pontification about one—or all—of these subjects:
- Sustainability
Do these topics have "meat on the bone," or are they a bunch of bologna?
- Energy Conservation
- Water Conservation
- Reduction of Cleaning Chemicals
- Lean Manufacturing
- Increased Production Run Time
- Reduced maintenance
- Reduced sanitation down time
- Food Safety
- Allergen Isolation
- Extending Shelf Life
- Recall Risk Reduction
- Recall Response and Traceability
Because of the energy expended talking about these things, I don’t doubt that they are concerns—maybe even urgent concerns. However, I have to ask this question: are they really important?
I really want your feedback. I’m curious: if they really are important, then at least one of them must be one of the top three things you proactively spend time on every week (and certainly in the top five things you will be spending money on in the upcoming months).
If not, then how important are they? Is there really “meat on the bone” of these things, or is it just a bunch of bologna? Are they just popular, trendy things for your organization to talk about? Be honest. (You don’t have to use your full name on this blog 
)
