The Lebensmittelinstitut KIN e.V. is much more than just an educational institution with three state-recognized degrees (state-certified food technician, IHK master craftsman specializing in food and Bachelor in Business Development Food Products).
The non-profit association is also a shareholder of KIN GmbH, which includes an accredited testing laboratory and a technology consultancy. KIN also operates a product development center for practical training, which is registered as a food company.
Improving the quality and safety of food is at the heart of everything KIN does. The core competencies of the KIN are also the specializations of the technician training:
- Product development and sensory analysis
- Quality management and food safety
- Operations management as well as process and digitalization management
In addition, KIN defines itself as an expert in process optimization (thermally preserved food, validation of processes and verification of HACCP concepts). With more than 250 member companies, the KIN network is the largest interdisciplinary network in the food industry. As many synergies are possible with us as a software provider in this context, from which our customers and the further development of our software solution also benefit, we joined the association as a member at the beginning of 2023.
From the preventive program (PRP/HACCP) to chemical, physical, microbiological and molecular biological analysis, sensor technology and food law consulting, the KIN is a competent partner for many companies in the food industry. From product development, validation and verification of processes to pre-auditing or follow-up of an IFS 7 audit, KIN provides support on site or in the KIN product development center and laboratory. Process technology progress in the context of digital transformation and Industry 4.0 drives and controls the thinking and actions of KIN experts in all process engineering processes, in laboratory work and in the qualification of specialists.
Quality Assurance and Food Industry 4.0
Quality and quality assurance traditionally have a high priority in food-producing companies. The digitalization of production processes in the context of “Industry 4.0.” is creating new requirements and opportunities. In addition to the existing guarantee of food safety, the safeguarding, digital traceability and documentation of processes as well as valid data acquisition in real-time are becoming increasingly important..
One of the Main Topics at KIN is Therefore Process Reliability through Digital Control
What does digital data flow mean for food safety? In production, there must be systems that monitor and control validated processes and maintain process safety. The key questions are: What data needs to be recorded where in the process and how can it be reported?
By using software solutions such as FASTEC 4 PRO, machine and process data can be processed and reported in real-time so that production employees can react to deviations and malfunctions directly in the process.
In addition, quality-relevant parameters, which are communicated to the monitoring systems in real-time via sensors, mean that quality assurance for important criteria such as temperature control can be checked and digitally documented directly from the process.
Digital production processes therefore now play a major role in KIN’s own product development center. The focus is also on optimizing manufacturing processes and production systems that are networked with scales, analysis devices and documentation databases. A classic core manufacturing process in the SME sector is mapped, which involves filling, weighing, sealing, thermal treatment and internal production logistics. The KIN Product Development Center works closely with equipment manufacturers, weighing and production terminal specialists and manufacturers of systems for the thermal treatment of food (e.g. CAITRON). And now also with us as a partner and provider of software solutions for digitalized production processes.
In Detail: Our Cooperation with the Food Institute KIN e.V.
- At the technical college for food technology: We provide our easyOEE productivity measuring device for training purposes. To meet the challenges of Industry 4.0, it is essential to be able to understand and control complex processes. The KIN food institute uses our productivity measuring device to train prospective food technicians in the analysis and optimization of production processes.
- In seminars: In joint workshops, we provide targeted training for specialists and companies in the digitalization of production processes and in reporting and interpreting the data collected.
- Collaborative events: We offer interested companies from the food industry workshops and insights into our FASTEC 4 YOU user network as well as joint public webinars.
What We Appreciate About Our Partner Lebensmittelinstitut KIN
Like FASTEC, the Lebensmittelinstitut KIN e.V. is an organization that places great value on working in partnership with customers and partners. The demand for professional quality and solution-oriented action is just as convincing as the noticeable honest commitment in all topics related to food safety.
