R&D: A Simple Guide

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:

(In Food Industries)

A Simple Guide

I've been doing research on basics in R&D in food industries but I've found quite few things about it. I would like to make it simple (with the help of my partner who is also an R&D specialist) for those that are into R&D and I hope it will be of help.

1.      Research:

·         Basic ingredients/components.

·         Functions, dosages, functional additives and its functions, secret ingredients.

·         Method or procedures, process conditions, concepts, standards.

2.       Benchmarking:

·         Get hold of products from competitors.

·    Read label, research, rank products according to highest sales and or organoleptic properties.

·         Screen panelists. Must be able to distinguish differences in formulations especially taste.

3.      Contact Suppliers:

·         Start with existing suppliers, ask what ingredients they have for your project.

·         Request samples.

·     Ask recommended dosage, quotation, minimum order quantity, expiry or ask what other companies are using the material.

·         Ask for technical specifications if samples are provided.

4.      Experimentation:

·         Prepare design of experiment .

·         Estimate or calculate needed amount of materials.

·         Start by copying the leading competitor.

·         Explore properties of each component added. If possible, taste each ingredient to determine their individual tastes.

·         Explore different process parameters and find the optimum condition.

·         Product analysis is done: Physico-chem, organoleptic and microbial activities.

·         If competitors product is copied, do better.

5.      Shelf Life Study:

·         Simulate packaging for accurate study.

·      Perform accelerated shelf life study for fast analysis but pair it with normal shelf life conditions for accuracy.

6.      Repeat Experimentation:

·         If problems occur.

·         Ask help. Continue research. Revise methods and or change ingredients.

7.      Trial Production:

·         Start going large-scale. Look for possible risks, critical points, additional things needed like equipment.

·         Do appropriate large-scale calculations to upsize laboratory-scale experiment.

Doing research and experimentation is fun. You get to do the practical things with application of theories though not all times the theories are correct and applicable. You get results you least expect, sometimes disappointing but exciting. That’s the beauty in R&D.