Making the most of lab testing equipment for dairies
Waiting for test results can slow down dairy processing. Faster testing methods cut wait time from minutes to seconds. In-line analyzers deliver information in real time.
Speed, accuracy and consistency are three metrics that managers of dairy processing plants should be measuring. An on-site dairy laboratory can play an important role in achieving high values in each of those metrics. Fast and accurate results contribute to food safety and manufacturing efficiency. Testing of raw ingredients and finished product helps a dairy processor achieve consistency in taste, texture and color.
Many dairy processors do their own testing in on-site labs and others use third-party laboratories. Some do both. The trend is to bring more testing in-house, said Megan Roush, a market development manager for Neogen Corp., Lansing, Mich., one of several testing suppliers interviewed for this article by Dairy Foods.