Abstract: Sensor stations and related systems and methods to monitor and measure properties of food products in food processing structures such as cure rooms, smokehouses, ovens, and related structures. The sensor stations allow real-time, local collection of product properties and their surrounding environmental conditions in order to improve efficiency, reduce product waste and guesswork, and to provide data-based analysis for decision making. Sensor stations can be mounted to food supports and can be in electronic communication with each other and with intermediate nodes that provide a connection to other external computing devices that provide analysis and alerts to users and technicians. Various non-destructive modeling systems for determining water activity and pH of changing products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for correction of water content measurements include determining an apparent water content measurement of a sample material while the sample material is dried in ambient vapor pressure conditions, determining a correction value that represents a relationship between the apparent water content and the vapor pressure, and correcting the apparent water content measurement based on the correction value. These methods and systems can reduce cost, measurement time, and error in water content measurement for products that lose water over time, such as while being dried or cured.

Abstract: Methods and system for determining water activity of a sample material are disclosed in which a sample material is positioned in a water activity measurement device, a plurality of water activity values of the sample material are measured at a respective plurality of points of time, with the plurality of points in time preceding an equilibrium state of the water activity of the sample material, the plurality of water activity values over time are log-transformed, a trendline of the plurality of water activity values over time is calculated, and the trendline is extrapolated to determine an extrapolated water activity value of the sample material at the equilibrium state. These methods and systems can decrease the time needed to determine the water activity of the sample by reliably predicting and estimating water activity well before equilibrium is reached in the measurement chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods include testing the weight and water activity of a product at different times and using those measurements to track changes in the water content/water weight and non-water content/non-water weight in the product. These can be useful to detect anomalous activities or batches of processed product, such as when portions of a product are being stolen or improperly altered or wasted. Plant operators can track properties of a product as the product undergoes processing to detect stages and areas in which problems occur and can thereby improve plant and operator efficiency.

Abstract: Methods and systems for correction of water content measurements include determining an apparent water content measurement of a sample material while the sample material is dried in ambient vapor pressure conditions, determining a correction value that represents a relationship between the apparent water content and the vapor pressure, and correcting the apparent water content measurement based on the correction value. These methods and systems can reduce cost, measurement time, and error in water content measurement for products that lose water over time, such as while being dried or cured.

Abstract: Sensor stations and related systems and methods to monitor and measure properties of food products in food processing structures such as cure rooms, smokehouses, ovens, and related structures. The sensor stations allow real-time, local collection of product properties and their surrounding environmental conditions in order to improve efficiency, reduce product waste and guesswork, and to provide data-based analysis for decision making. Sensor stations can be mounted to food supports and can be in electronic communication with each other and with intermediate nodes that provide a connection to other external computing devices that provide analysis and alerts to users and technicians. Various non-destructive modeling systems for determining water activity and pH of changing products are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods include testing the weight and water activity of a product at different times and using those measurements to track changes in the water content/water weight and non-water content/non-water weight in the product. These can be useful to detect anomalous activities or batches of processed product, such as when portions of a product are being stolen or improperly altered or wasted. Plant operators can track properties of a product as the product undergoes processing to detect stages and areas in which problems occur and can thereby improve plant and operator efficiency.

Abstract: Sensor stations and related systems and methods to monitor and measure properties of food products in food processing structures such as cure rooms, smokehouses, ovens, and related structures. The sensor stations allow real-time, local collection of product properties and their surrounding environmental conditions in order to improve efficiency, reduce product waste and guesswork, and to provide data-based analysis for decision making. Sensor stations can be mounted to food supports and can be in electronic communication with each other and with intermediate nodes that provide a connection to other external computing devices that provide analysis and alerts to users and technicians. Various non-destructive modeling systems for determining water activity and pH of changing products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and system for determining water activity of a sample material are disclosed in which a sample material is positioned in a water activity measurement device, a plurality of water activity values of the sample material are measured at a respective plurality of points of time, with the plurality of points in time preceding an equilibrium state of the water activity of the sample material, the plurality of water activity values over time are log-transformed, a trendline of the plurality of water activity values over time is calculated, and the trendline is extrapolated to determine an extrapolated water activity value of the sample material at the equilibrium state. These methods and systems can decrease the time needed to determine the water activity of the sample by reliably predicting and estimating water activity well before equilibrium is reached in the measurement chamber.

Abstract: Sensor stations and related systems and methods to monitor and measure properties of food products in food processing structures such as cure rooms, smokehouses, ovens, and related structures. The sensor stations allow real-time, local collection of product properties and their surrounding environmental conditions in order to improve efficiency, reduce product waste and guesswork, and to provide data-based analysis for decision making. Sensor stations can be mounted to food supports and can be in electronic communication with each other and with intermediate nodes that provide a connection to other external computing devices that provide analysis and alerts to users and technicians. Various non-destructive modeling systems for determining water activity and pH of changing products are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus, devices, systems, and techniques are disclosed herein to manage digital data generated as part of a manufacturing process. A data management device may be operatively coupled to one or more instruments via cables connected to data ports provided in the instruments. The data management device may be configured to communicate with the instruments via these wired connections. The data management device may be network-enabled such that it is capable of communicating with servers and/or remote computing devices via a network. Upon executing a test, the data management device may collect the data from the instruments and form a digital record. The digital record may include measurement information and compliance information associated with the test that was performed. The data management device may be configured to store the digital record or the test data.