2012 Annual Report (PDF) - 3-A Sanitary Standards
2012 Annual Report (PDF) - 3-A Sanitary Standards
2012 Annual Report (PDF) - 3-A Sanitary Standards
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Users Affirm 3-A ‘Brand’ Value<br />
Data collected from 3-A Symbol holders this year underlines the<br />
perceived importance of sanitary equipment design and display of the<br />
3-A Symbol for food processing equipment. The customer feedback<br />
affirms the work of 3-A SSI over the past four years to reinforce the<br />
‘3-A value’ among the principal stakeholder groups of 3-A SSI -<br />
processors, fabricators, and regulatory sanitarians.<br />
3-A SSI Reaches<br />
Important New Audiences<br />
The data showed the leading reasons for seeking 3-A Symbol<br />
authorization were:<br />
XX<br />
Our customers ask for equipment covered by the 3-A<br />
Symbol.<br />
XX<br />
XX<br />
We want to be an industry leader.<br />
We believe it is important to provide the safest equipment<br />
from the sanitary design perspective.<br />
Most new 3-A Symbol applicants relied on the 3-A SSI web site<br />
for information on the 3-A Symbol and the application process. A<br />
large number of respondents worked in conjunction with a Certified<br />
Conformance Evaluator (CCE) to complete the application process.<br />
The respondents indicated the company planned to promote<br />
the company’s 3-A Symbol authorization to current/prospective<br />
customers in numerous ways, including:<br />
XX<br />
XX<br />
XX<br />
XX<br />
XX<br />
Brochures and literature<br />
In advertising, on our web site, and in equipment<br />
pamphlets<br />
Product line sheet as well as web site marketing ads<br />
Exhibitions and by product launch materials<br />
E-mail, ads in magazines, exhibits, brochures<br />
Research on the 3-A ‘brand’ value was conducted in 2008 and a<br />
series of new products and outreach initiatives were implemented<br />
each year since to promote more focused and consistent messages to<br />
all stakeholder groups on the true benefits of the 3-A Symbol. These<br />
resources included new marketing tools for 3-A Symbol holders,<br />
video resources, ‘white papers’, and extensive outreach activities.<br />
3-A SSI announced the first recipients of a new 3-A SSI Student<br />
Travel Scholarship Award this year. The award is intended to help<br />
motivated, career-oriented students to participate in the annual<br />
education program of 3-A SSI and gain comprehensive knowledge<br />
about sanitary design for food processing equipment and systems.<br />
Five students received the award and participated in the 3-A SSI 2011<br />
programs on May 17-20 at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel<br />
& Convention Center in Milwaukee, WI. The student recipients<br />
represented Texas Tech University, Michigan State University,<br />
Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Minnesota.<br />
According to Dr. Ronald Schmidt (University of Florida), chair of<br />
3-A SSI and long-time educator, “Food safety has become a highly<br />
important emphasis in food science and food microbiology curricula.<br />
However, sanitary equipment design, a critical element of food<br />
safety, is not often covered in depth in our programs. The 3-A SSI<br />
program provides a truly special opportunity for future food industry<br />
professionals to supplement their educational experience, gain indepth<br />
knowledge about sanitary equipment design in ‘the real world’<br />
and network with a truly diverse group of industry leaders.”<br />
3-A SSI continued its liaison with dairy representatives from emerging<br />
markets around the world as part of the U.S. Department of<br />
Commerce Special American Business Internship Training Program<br />
(SABIT). In April, 3-A SSI met with a group of dairy industry<br />
professionals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan,<br />
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 3-A<br />
SSI briefed the delegates on 3-A <strong>Sanitary</strong> <strong>Standards</strong>, 3-A Accepted<br />
Practices and the 3-A Symbol. SABIT’s Dairy Processing and<br />
Packaging program aims to give participants a comprehensive<br />
understanding of the dairy industry in the U.S., with an emphasis<br />
on processing technologies, processing and packaging equipment,<br />
production automation, industry standards, safety regulations, strategic<br />
planning, marketing techniques, and other important industry topics.<br />
3-A SSI provided a briefing on 3-A <strong>Sanitary</strong> <strong>Standards</strong> design<br />
criteria at a public workshop on Reprocessing of Reusable Medical<br />
Devices on June 9 at the FDA White Oak Campus in College Park,<br />
MD. The workshop planners sought more about the history of<br />
3-A <strong>Sanitary</strong> <strong>Standards</strong> in developing food processing equipment<br />
standards and design principles that may have potential application<br />
to reusable medical devices for cleanability. The workshop attracted<br />
approximately 150 representatives, most from the medical<br />
instrumentation industry. The workshop was coordinated by the<br />
FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).<br />
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