METAL DETECTION – THE BASIC PRINCIPLES

When it comes to metal detection protocols and practices, you need to define every step. It’s the only way to ensure the safe product will get to a customer’s table. And it has to be safe for consumption or it’s just plain negligent. The customer has to come first. There’s no shortcut to integrity. Here’s a list of Best Practices and Typical Guidelines for handling your metal detector systems:

Prevention

• Supply training for maintenance and cleaning staff in metal detector basics.
• Plan and control your maintenance schedule, ideally during non-production hours.
• Plan regular inspection of your production lines for identification of potential contaminants.  Pay particular attention to Critical Control Points (CCP).
• Utilize good housekeeping practices throughout the plant.

Sensitivity

• Identify your “standards.” You need to know what you can achieve and how to get the most out of your detectors.
• Re-evaluate standards whenever the conditions change whether in supplier controls or changes in product or on the line.
• Maintain and safely store all documentation and records. If you don’t know where you’ve been you’ll never advance.
• Maximize sensitivity without compromising performance. Implement security levels, protocols and passwords.  Ensure that only qualified personnel have access to secure information.

Testing

• Document and communicate all testing. Identify how tests are performed, who is responsible and why.
• Always use certified metal detection test pieces from a reliable source.  Use an ISO certified source.
• Establish the frequency for testing and maintain it. Ensure that all responsible parties understand the need for integrity in test and are held accountable.
• Create test packs where relevant and appropriate.

Reject Product Handling

• Isolate and re-screen potentially contaminated product on test failure. Never let product with suspected contaminant leave the plant.
• Investigate the source of the contaminant. Use trained personnel, offline and as quickly as possible or within reasonable time
• On repeat (consecutive) detection issues, identify the source of the contaminant.
• On multiple detections, stop production.

Record Keeping

• Record commissioning and sensitivity details.
• Store test results where qualified quality control personnel can access.
• Keep shift results, including the number of rejects and action taken.
• Document maintenance schedules and who performed the procedures.
• Maintain training documentation for all personnel.