GM Scott lamb slaughter floor strategic review

Summary

Background
There are opportunities for the Australian processing industry to improve its operating capability by structuring its processing rooms using newly developed equipment, and making better use of space and human resourcesd. The use of new handling equipment and robotics or automated technologies, especially in the primary cutting area has matured considerably in recent years, ready for wider adoption. Defining slaughter and boning rooms with features that allow best performance to be achieved is fundamental to the competitiveness of the industry. 
Research
Under project P.PIP.0342 an evaluation of the cutting operation at Frewstal during 2012/2013 was carried out.
The resulting report presented the strategies, opportunities and focuses on improvements in capability and capacity of cutting operation dealing with both the short and long term approaches. Cutting, boning, trimming, and where relevant, packing operations were considered as was strategies in IT and automation. The concept for a performance Cutting Room (pCR) introduces new approaches for a modern plant capable of self-optimisation for maximum profitability. The short term emphasis for Frewstal was concerned with the definition of a cutting room for better quality, minimum handling and optimised yield control in a safe working environment.
 Similarly, project P.PSH.0628 investigated a 'green field' construction for a new and efficient slaughtering facility at GM Scott, giving 20% increase in throughput, better control over process and significant improvement in hygiene standards and work conditions. The project covered design considerations over the period 2012 to 2013, with the slaughter facility commissioned for first operation on 26 August 2013