Year: 2016
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: The interest to reduce food losses and wastes has grown considerably in order to guarantee adequate food for the fast growing population.We used a systematic review to show the potential of Value Stream Mapping not only to identify and reduce food losses and wastes, but also as a way establish links with nutrient retention in supply chains.The review complied literature from 24 studies that applied VSM in the agri-food industry.The results exhibit the capacity of VSM which identified primary production, processing, storage, food service and/or consumption as susceptible hot spots for losses and wastes.The analysis further revealed discarding and nutrient loss as the main forms of loss/waste in food, which were adapted to four out of seven lean wastes.This paper presents the state of the art of compatibility of lean practices in the agri-food industry by identifying lead time as the most applicable performance indicator.VSM was also found compatible with other lean tools such as Just-In-Time and 5S which are continuous improvement strategies, as well as simulation modelling that enhances adoption.In order to ensure successful application of lean practices aimed at minimizing food losses and wastes, multi-stakeholder collaboration along the entire food supply chain is indispensable.
Language: English
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2720041620