Formulation software allows pet food modeling
Summary
Computer models help pet food producers to plan and prepare more effectively while developing products manufacturers know they can make consistently. At Petfood Forum 2024, Ian Mealy, product marketing director for Format Solutions, delivered a Tech Talk on the transformative potential of formulation software in the pet food industry. Mealy began by contextualizing the essential IT infrastructure that supports daily operations in pet food businesses, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management and manufacturing execution systems. He argued that formulation should be viewed as a strategic tool that brings control and precision to recipe development, thus ensuring high-quality outputs despite real-world variability. The more accurately the computer models real-world conditions, the more the software empowers businesses to respond to changes, maintaining product quality while considering cost and ingredient availability.