Commercial oven calibration and benchmarking to improve product quality are among the highest priorities for commercial bakeries. These are essential processes for ensuring consistent and high-quality baking results. These procedures involve verifying and adjusting oven settings to meet desired performance standards and achieve optimal product quality. The professionals with Reading Thermal have some information on how calibration and benchmarking improve product quality in bakery operations.
Calibration Explained
Commercial oven calibration is the process of verifying and adjusting oven settings to ensure they accurately reflect the desired temperature, airflow, and other parameters necessary for optimal baking performance. Calibration ensures that ovens maintain consistent and accurate temperature control, which is critical for achieving uniform product quality across different batches and products.
By calibrating ovens regularly, bakery operators can identify and rectify any deviations from the desired settings, ensuring reliable and consistent baking results.
The first step is to verify the accuracy of temperature sensors and controls. The SCORPION® 2 LITE Temperature Data Logger from Reading Thermal helps operators compare the readings from oven sensors to a reference standard, such as a calibrated thermometer or temperature probe. If discrepancies are detected, adjustments are made to the oven controls to bring them into alignment with the desired temperature settings.
Once temperature accuracy is verified, the next step in oven calibration is to assess and adjust airflow settings. Airflow plays a crucial role in the baking process, as it affects heat distribution, moisture evaporation, and product texture. By adjusting fan speed, damper settings, and other airflow parameters, bakery operators can optimize oven performance and achieve consistent baking results.
Benchmarking Basics
In addition to calibration, commercial bakeries also perform oven benchmarking, which involves comparing oven performance against established benchmarks or industry standards. Benchmarking helps bakery operators assess the overall performance of their ovens and identify areas for improvement. By benchmarking oven performance regularly, bakery operators can track changes over time, identify trends, and implement corrective actions as needed to maintain or improve product quality.
There are several methods used for benchmarking oven performance in commercial bakeries. One common approach is to bake a standard test product, such as bread or cookies, under controlled conditions and measure key quality parameters, such as texture, color and moisture content. By comparing the results of these tests to established benchmarks or industry standards, bakery operators can assess oven performance and identify areas for improvement.
Another method of oven benchmarking involves monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) related to oven operation, such as cycle times, energy consumption and product throughput. By tracking these KPIs over time and comparing them to industry benchmarks or internal targets, bakery operators can identify opportunities to optimize oven performance, reduce operating costs, and improve overall efficiency.
Benefits
The benefits of commercial oven calibration and benchmarking extend beyond improving product quality to include increased efficiency, reduced waste and enhanced food safety. By ensuring accurate temperature control and optimal airflow settings, oven calibration helps bakery operators achieve consistent baking results, reduce product defects, and minimize production downtime. Benchmarking oven performance against industry standards, also allows bakery operators to identify opportunities to optimize oven operation, improve energy efficiency and enhance overall productivity.
Find out more about how Reading Thermal can help with commercial oven calibration and benchmarking to improve product quality in your operation. Call 610-678-5890 or contact us online to get in touch.