Upgrades to 3M Clean-Trace System Help Improve Manufacturing Conditions for Food Producers

3M Food Safety announces software enhancements to its 3M Clean-Trace Hygiene Monitoring System, a family of products that helps food and beverage processors easily track and monitor cleaning and sanitation within their manufacturing environments.

Available immediately, 3M Clean-Trace Data Trending Software Version 5.03 allows easy identification of cleanliness and continuous improvement in sanitation programs after samples are taken from the production line. The updated software is available in 20 languages and includes: newly formatted, audit-ready reports; customizable trend analytics and a sophisticated graph wizard; and tools for development and implementation of company-specific sample plans and master sanitation schedules.

For food and beverage manufacturers and processors, the software improvements go far beyond the ability to conveniently store data that has been collected. By using the full capabilities of the software to transform data into robust trend analytics, hygiene managers are equipped with valuable insights that can track cleaning effectiveness, bring about improved sanitation processes and standards as well as address audit requests that originate internally or externally.

The Clean-Trace Data Trending Software allows customers around the world to almost instantly pinpoint where a sanitation problem occurs and address it at the source. Not only do they find contaminants in the manufacturing line, they can systematically identify trends with equipment, work crews and processes even predict where future issues could happen, says Tom Dewey, 3M Food Safety global marketing manager.

The 3M Clean-Trace system consists of a sampling medium and easy-to-use hardware and software. The sampling medium 3M Clean-Trace ATP Test Swabs are wiped on suspect surface areas to collect residues that may contain adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy molecule prevalent in organic materials. The hardware, a powerful, but portable and easy-to-use device known as the 3M Clean-Trace NG Luminometer, rapidly evaluates the sample and determines the presence and magnitude of potential contamination. The handheld Luminometer, which delivers a result in mere seconds, allows users to pre-select their own pass, caution or fail levels for added convenience, clarity and process management capabilities.

3Ms updated software comes into play after the Luminometer is docked to a computer or connected via USB cable. Once the sample data is downloaded to the software, users gain full trend analysis capabilities allowing them to quickly make business decisions and comply with audit requirements.