Honeywell > Case Studies > A Bountiful Harvest: When LoBue Citrus Switched to a Food Traceability Solution from Intermec by Honeywell, Packing Accuracy Jumped to 99 Percent

A Bountiful Harvest: When LoBue Citrus Switched to a Food Traceability Solution from Intermec by Honeywell, Packing Accuracy Jumped to 99 Percent

Honeywell Logo
Customer Company Size
Mid-size Company
Region
  • America
  • Asia
Country
  • United States
Product
  • Intermec by Honeywell PM4i
  • Intermec by Honeywell PB50
  • Intermec by Honeywell SR30
  • FoodLogiQ PTI Solution
Tech Stack
  • Barcode Scanning
  • Automated Inventory Control
  • Smart Printing Solutions
Implementation Scale
  • Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
  • Cost Savings
  • Productivity Improvements
  • Customer Satisfaction
Technology Category
  • Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
  • Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
  • Networks & Connectivity - RFID
Applicable Industries
  • Food & Beverage
  • Agriculture
Applicable Functions
  • Warehouse & Inventory Management
  • Quality Assurance
Use Cases
  • Inventory Management
  • Track & Trace of Assets
  • Predictive Maintenance
Services
  • System Integration
  • Software Design & Engineering Services
About The Customer
LoBue Citrus is a family-run grower and distributor of oranges, contributing approximately four to five percent of the California citrus industry. The company handles between four and five million boxes of oranges annually, with 40 percent of their product exported to Asia. Based in Lindsay, California, LoBue Citrus has been a key player in the citrus market, focusing on quality and efficiency in their operations. The company recognized the need to modernize their produce traceability program to maintain their competitive edge and ensure compliance with industry standards.
The Challenge
LoBue Citrus, a significant player in the California citrus industry, faced challenges with their manual produce traceability program. The manual process was resource-intensive and prone to errors, which could impact their ability to meet the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) requirements. The need for a more efficient and accurate system became evident, especially given the scale of their operations, which involved exporting a significant portion of their produce to Asia. The company sought a solution that would automate their traceability process, improve inventory accuracy, and reduce the time required for trace-back operations.
The Solution
LoBue Citrus partnered with FoodLogiQ to implement an automated traceability system using Intermec by Honeywell Smart Printing solutions. The system included Intermec by Honeywell PM4i industrial smart printers, which did not require an additional computer to print labels, making it a cost-effective and user-friendly solution. Workers used Intermec by Honeywell SR30 handheld scanners to scan barcodes generated by FoodLogiQ, which then instructed the PM4i printers on what labels to print. The system also included Intermec by Honeywell PB50 mobile printers for generating pallet tags. This setup allowed workers to move the printers to the boxes that required tags, streamlining the labeling process. The automated system provided real-time inventory control, enabling LoBue Citrus to make informed decisions in sales and production. The integration of FoodLogiQ's PTI solution with Intermec by Honeywell technology ensured that all aspects of traceability, food safety, and documentation were covered, allowing LoBue Citrus to focus on their core business.
Operational Impact
  • The new automated system significantly reduced the time required for trace-back operations from two hours to just a few minutes.
  • Inventory accuracy improved dramatically, with accuracy rates increasing from the high-80 to low-90 percent range to between 98 and 99 percent.
  • The automation of the traceability process eliminated the need for physical inventories, saving eight to 16 labor hours each day.
  • The system's ease of use and standalone nature facilitated quick worker adoption and minimized training requirements.
  • LoBue Citrus was able to focus on their core business, as FoodLogiQ provided a comprehensive solution that integrated all necessary traceability and food safety requirements.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Packing accuracy increased to 99 percent.
  • Labor cost savings of approximately $96 to $240 per day due to the elimination of physical inventories.
  • The system is expected to pay for itself within two years.

Case Study missing?

Start adding your own!

Register with your work email and create a new case study profile for your business.

Add New Record

Related Case Studies.

Contact us

Let's talk!
* Required
* Required
* Required
* Invalid email address
By submitting this form, you agree that IoT ONE may contact you with insights and marketing messaging.
No thanks, I don't want to receive any marketing emails from IoT ONE.
Submit

Thank you for your message!
We will contact you soon.