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There are promises of perfection and then there is the more accurate assessment of probability. By identifying variables in products and processes and by thoroughly testing products, a food or beverage manufacturer can get, what Eagle calls the greatest probability of detection (POD). This will indicate how likely a system is to perform given a certain set of circumstances. POD, which isn’t commonly understood in the industry, is crucial when choosing an inspection system.
Promises, promises. Food manufacturers hear a lot of them when they are looking at new equipment.
But making a capital investment is a serious decision that requires the most accurate information and not just a vague or overstated promise. Such information is particularly pivotal in x-ray equipment designed to be a stopgap between food safety and potential hazards and between consistent quality and inconsistent or flawed products.
For advanced inspection systems that rejects contaminated products and performs important product integrity checks, determining the probability of detection (referred to by Eagle as “POD”) provides the most accurate, consistent information about an inspection machine and how it will be used on a specific line.
A company looking at introducing an x-ray machine might be looking for certainty that the solution protects them 100% of the time. That’s just not realistic. 100% detection is statistically impossible to prove. POD, on the other hand, defines how likely a contaminant is to be detected by an x-ray system, given all of the variables associated with a certain application.
Those variables matter. A big block of butter, for example, is homogeneous and clearly defined in terms of its shape and how it is made. That block of butter has a different probability of detection than a product with more natural variation, like bulk granola or a ready meal.
In addition to variations in product form, there are also variables in package sizes and types (especially as today’s manufacturers work with a greater variety of packages) and the process itself, such as varying line speeds. For example, a tuna can pull tab lowers the POD because an x-ray system will see the pull tab as a contaminant. It is only with advanced software, like Eagle’s SimulTask PRO, that the uniform size and shape of the pull tab can be recognized and actually cut out from the original creating two images to be inspected separately. It then inspects both images for contaminants and by removing the pull tab, the POD is enhanced for the entire product. This enhancement can be replicated on other varying packaging types such as foil trays and glass jars.
With any variable, the element of consistency is taken away. The biggest variable, arguably, is the potential contaminant: it’s almost impossible to manage all contaminants that can make their way into any product. It is important, then, to use different test contaminants to give an indication of the likelihood of a foreign material being found in a particular item. Manufacturers and suppliers can work together to test the different contaminants that might be found in the product and in the package, including metal fragments, glass shards, small bits of plastic and other foreign materials.
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Identifying and managing variables is done through repeated testing of inspection equipment before it is installed on the line. For example, our teams do multiple tests to try to simulate different types of contaminants – we may do passes – 30, 40 or more times to get the POD. What we’re looking for is information or evidence of past performance to predict how the system will perform in the future.
Is a promise of 99% detection realistic? To get 99% POD, you’d have to do tens of thousands of different passes in all variations. In the end, you’d be doing more testing than producing. Instead, it is better and more reasonable to understand where variables are coming from and conduct testing to assess what performance is possible, to create a realistic POD.
Even once your x-ray machine is installed, routine checks are essential to ensure the equipment continues to operate with the specified sensitivity standard, POD and correct contaminant detection. Loss of sensitivity can occur as a result of manual changes in software settings or as a result of the drifting of electrical/mechanical components over time. Repeated usage can also result in loss of sensitivity. Major retailers stipulate that daily routine checks should be conducted by operators after an agreed pre-set time interval using calibrated test sticks.
An x-ray system must be correctly maintained throughout its service life to ensure it continues to operate at optimum performance with maximum uptime. A Preventative Maintenance Performance Validation (PMPV) will help to ensure that future mechanical or electrical problems can be addressed before a breakdown occurs. A qualified engineer should carry out regular maintenance as well as performance validation checks of the x-ray system. Such a process should typically take place once every 6 to 12 months and is required by major retailers. Investing in service contracts is great way to budget for those yearly maintenance costs.
POD seems like a simple number, but it’s vital food manufacturers understand its significance and how it’s calculated in order to compare different x-ray systems on the market and make an educated choice when selecting a supplier. To get a clearer picture of your probability of detection and speak to an x-ray expert at eaglesales@eaglepi.com.
