Products
Thorsys Production System
Livestock
Functions are provided to facilitate purchase, receipt and processing of Livestock. This module is integrated with existing Creditors systems to automatically transfer information for processing of cheque payments to producers, saleyards or agents
Livestock stock information is kept in the Thorsys’ Abattoir System by location and all standard functions are available as per other products, including stock keeping and stock transfers.
Functions provided include:
- Purchasing and receipt of Livestock
- Automatic or manual load of kill agenda
- Additions and deductions, in percentages or fixed amounts per head or kilo
- Generic maintenance functions, including species, breed, vendor, buyer, payment methods, variable payment grouping options, addition codes and percentage or amount, deduction codes and percentage or amount
- General reporting for all functions, including
- Commission report
- Daily Summary report
- Feedback Sheets
- Grids and Grades
- Livestock Costing report
- Payments Due report
- Purchase Listing
- Arrivals report
- Interface to Creditors system
Slaughter Floor
NLIS
The Thorsys system interfaces with the MLA’s NLIS system for cattle identification. The system has two types, and they are EU and Non-EU processing. In EU processing, a list of PIC’s is entered on the NLIS webpage, and a full list of ID’s is returned and updated to the Thorsys system.
These are then checked for EU and other status when the eartag is scanned at the knocking box. No-EU processing requires the download of exception PIC’s and ID’s, and then this list checked when the eartag is scanned at the knocking box. In both cases a list of slaughtered ID’s is sent back to the NLIS database for update purposes.
Kill Agenda
A function is provided to schedule the daily kill for each slaughter line. This can be performed from any PC on the network but would be ideally achieved from the stock office.
After the kill has been scheduled, a kill agenda can be printed. All schedule details are immediately available to the grading terminals.
Pre Grading
Touch screen terminals can be installed on the slaughter floor at:
- The knocking box/bleed line (“Liveweight” recording, sex, ear tag, tailtag)
- RF Eartags (NLIS database) interface
- Tailtag (ERP database) interface
- Beginning of the head chain (dentition recording)
- On the viscera table (Offal defects, diseases)
- Final inspection (Trim defects, condemnations)
- Detain terminal for recording retains information
- Grading point (HSCW, grade, fat depth, sex, ticket production)
- Post grading scale for recording of post trimming weight.
Some of these functions can be combined thus reducing the amount of “on floor” equipment required. Further details can be provided on request and are always dependent on specific your requirements.
Identification of carcasses through the slaughtering process would be by food approved pen, stamp or body ticket.
As carcasses are processed through out the slaughtering process, the terminals are used to collect the information about the carcass. All information is continually added and updated to the central database, allowing Kill progress enquiries from any PC(s) located throughout the plant.
Carcass Grading
At the end of the slaughtering process, touchscreen-grading terminals are installed to perform grading and ticketing functions. Following grading, a barcoded carcass tag is attached to the side for subsequent identification throughout the further processing operation.
Carcass tickets can be designed with design utilities included in the system.
Chiller Assessment
Chiller Assessment Data Collection
Once the carcases are moved to the chiller, and the appropriate time for chilling has elapsed, the chiller assessors use a handheld RF computer to perform the chiller assessment/DNA Collection/MSA collection.
The carcase ticket is scanned and the relevant slaughter details are displayed. The chiller assessor then enters the collected information such as Fat Colour, Meat Colour, Marbling, Ph etc as well as taking a DNA sample and placing it on the DNA sample collector. The collectors barcode is scanned and along with all the other data, stored against the body.
The chiller assessment can further refine the grade calculated on the Slaughter Floor, and is included for use in costing calculations and feedback sheets.
The Thorsys system is the only certified supplier of an integrated MSA Grading package with a full production system in Australia.
Boning Room
Boning Room Input
Sides can be moved to a position prior to entering the boning room across a track scale. A THORSYS Terminal will be located at this point with a scanner attached to scan the tag produced on the slaughter floor.
This terminal will record the cold weight (for shrinkage calculation) and advise the operator of the grade of the side as determined by the kill floor grading and chiller assessment process.
Any body/side/quarter nominated for testing (on the kill floor), or any other body with the same tailtag, will be allowed into the boning room unless test results have been previously input indicating that the carcasses for this tailtag are clear for boning. Carcasses will thus be tracked and recorded into the boning room.
Boning
Boning room systems can be designed to suite any abattoir’s individual needs.
Sides (or quarters) for a body can be moved to one of the boning lines where they will boned and prepared for vacuum packing.
Traceability
This module is designed specifically to suit the requirements of each installation.
The module facilitates the recording and identification of individual cuts and subsequently associate cuts with carcass, animal, producer and so on.
Cut tickets are produced using the standard labels approved for food products and can be applied inside or outside cryovac bags.
Thorsys also interface with the Genetic Solutions ‘Suretrak’ DNA system for identification from hair or meat samples.
Carton Weighing
Chilled Product
After vacuum packing, cuts are placed in cartons by the operators at the THORSYS Carton Weigh Labelling Systems.
The operators have available to them the product specifications as determined by the production-scheduling operator. Where a weigh station will pack products for multiple customers, the operator will select from the touch screen the current customer for whom the cut is being packed. The screen then displays the available specifications for the selected customer, then the individual products for the specification. A separate display window on the screen will display a variance weight for individual cut weighing.
When complete, a label is produced identifying the product contained in the carton and this information is immediately updated online to the central database making the information available for enquiry. The THORSYS Abattoir System will prevents the operator packing a product for different customers into the same carton.
The Carton Weigh Labelling System is capable of handling a wide variety of label sizes. Maintenance of label layout is possible with the Microsoft Windows™ based label maintenance program. The bar code on the label can be configured to meet outer carton labelling requirements of UPC/EAN.
The label printer is capable of producing labels up to a print width of 104 mm and of user defined length.
Frozen Product
Frozen products (trimmings, manufacturing cuts) are packed and conveyed to the Frozen Weigh Labelling station. A THORSYS semi-automatic carton weigh labelling system can be installed immediately following a MQ27 fat analyser. The THORSYS Carton Weigh Labelling System can be interfaced to the MQ27 and allow for recording of the CL reading as determined by the MQ27. Products outside the tolerances set in the product specification file are notified to the operator who can either reject or accept.
As an option, THORSYS can provide the capability for the Carton Weighing System to “auto range” and select an alternative product code in the group where the CL reading from the MQ27 would allow the product to be accepted.
A label printer with an automatic label applicator can be associated with the THORSYS Carton Weighing System . The carton after weighing will be moved onto the conveyor and the label will be automatically applied to the carton as it moves over the sensors.
While the label applicator provides a label print width of 104mm maximum, it’s versatility allows label length to be as long as required. Additionally, the label applicator is capable of applying the label in any orientation. For example, the label can be set to print a label of up to 300mm long and 115 mm high and applied to the carton with the long edge parallel to the base of the carton.
The THORSYS Carton Weighing & Labelling System provides user maintainable label layout design software operated from anywhere on the network.
Loadout
Functions are be provided to enable the recording and loading out of both cartons and carcass product. Quarter beef loadout and carton loadout will be treated in the same manner in that the production scheduling/shipping department will “release” orders for shipping and these are then be available for loadout.
Carcass Loadout
A weighing and ticketing system is provided for the labelling of carcass product. Carcasses to be loaded out would have their slaughter tag scanned and a new tag produced including the cold weight and appropriate information including foreign language text if required. Provision is made in the THORSYS carcass loadout system for foreign language Korean, Katakana, and Arabic.
Carton Loadout
Orders to be shipped have had an order previously raised within the order system. When required to be loaded, the order is released to the shipping department. Orders then released can be scanned using the radio scanners proposed for this function.
For scanning, the loadout operator first selects the function required (e.g. order scanning, transfer stock, stock-take) from the radio scanner menu. Upon selecting order scanning, a list of orders and container number will be displayed. The operator then commences scanning of products for that order. During scanning, error checking is automatically done by the software to prevent doubling up of units, scanning of products not allocated to order, over packing of product (by weight or units), and product out of date range for orders. Alternative products will be allowed in the order according to that specified within the original order at entry time. As each carton is scanned it is updated to the database in approximately 0.7 of a second. Either individual cartons or palletised product (by scanning the pallet label) are scanned into an order.
For palletised stock, all checking that applies to the order is applied to the individual cartons contained on the pallet. The operator may enquire as to the progress of the order on their radio scanner display screen.
When the order is complete an order report can be produced either in date of packing or product order, by individual carton or in summary.
Additional information can then be added (e.g. container number) and the order is then ready for exporting to a documentation system if required.
A function of the THORSYS loadout system is the capability for multiple scanners to scan product for the same order at the same time. This provides a fast method of container loading with full checking between scanners.
Distribution
When products are distributed or delivered system functions are available to facilitate:
- Recording of transport details (companies, trucks, etc.)
- Recording of delivery routes
- Automated assignment of completed orders to trucks by delivery route
- Delivery notes
- Customised delivery schedules, based on customer, area, route
This module is usually customised to suit the individual requirements of each installation.
Exporting
Functions are provided to facilitate control of distribution to overseas destinations. Functions are available to facilitate:
- Recording of transport details (companies, shipping companies, ships, etc.)
- Delivery notes
- Recording of export and shipping costs
- Export documentation
This module is usually customised to suit the individual requirements of each installation.
Stock & Inventory
Stock Control and Inventory Transaction functions are performed by the Stock/Inventory system which already encompasses all the information required to provide stock control for livestock, carcass, cartoned, and if required by-products (meat meal, tallow, hides, skins).
This is a modular application that can be adapted or compartmentalised to suit the individual needs of every installation.