News
Better Efficiency with Technology
Food New Zealand August / September issue
Technology is all around us and constantly evolving. “Business leaders are looking for ways to keep up with an ever-changing world of customer expectations and regulatory compliance,” says QCONZ general manager business development, Chris Leach.
“Discerning customers have increasing expectations and need reassurance about the origin and quality of the food they purchase,” he says, adding that technology is being used more and more to help support brands by backing up claims with reliable data.
Leach points to three technologies offered by the Hamilton-based food safety and quality company that food companies might consider to help overcome common issues:
e-learning to help retain staff and integrate seasonal workers. He suggests using technology like QCONZ Virtual Coach, which offers interactive, “bite-sized” modules that staff can complete to suit both themselves and the employer. “It’s an extremely cost effective way of supporting and upskilling staff,” says Leach.
Moving to a fully integrated computer system that allows data to be captured, systems monitored and reports generated, “really is a no-brainer,” says Leach. The QCONZ-developed platform, Information Leader means there is a full audit trail of every interaction with the system. Compliance data can be managed and collected centrally, providing a processor with information required to monitor and manage performance and satisfy compliance systems.
Centrally managing teams and communicating with them across multiple devices can often be complex and lead to a confused flow of information. An app such as Sync can help those looking for a simple low-cost, customisable option to capture data over the mobile network, he suggests.
Other News
QCONZ is very excited to announce the appointment of Mark Neal as an independent Director to our Board… Sep 2021
We are pleased to announce that QCONZ will be helping deliver a ‘Reducing Strains and Sprains’ project co-funded by ACC and DairyNZ… Aug 2021
Jointly hosted by MIA and Beef + Lamb NZ, QCONZ attended the annual Red Meat Sector Conference in Rotorua last week… Aug 2021
Congratulations Tyree! Tyree Connor our National Training Manager has taken up the position as Head Judge of New Zealand’s Amateur Rock n Roll Association… July 2021
QCONZ team members Louise Brok, Justin Moss and Murray Pedley had the great pleasure of attending a FarmScope user focus group meeting… July 2021
We’re all set up at the National Fieldays in Hamilton ready to showcase our MbT digital row timer and app designed for rotary and herringbone dairies…June 2021
Well done to our IT team who made mention in this recent article highlighting Danone’s move into the digital age and QCONZ’s involvement in developing and creating their milk quality app… June 2021
Wow what a great event! Last week the QCONZ team came together for their bi-annual staff conference. Hosted at the Distinction Hotel in Rotorua, this was a great opportunity for the team to get to know one another better and gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the QCONZ business; what we do and why we do it… June 2021
MbT is QCONZ latest innovation hot off the press. Short for ‘Milking by Time, this digital row/rotation timer makes it easier to implement a MaxT milking strategy and is fast becoming a ‘must have’ in all Herringbone and Rotary dairies… May 2021
Murray Pedley, our very own CEO, was awarded Life Membership of the NZ Milking & Pumping Trade Association… April 2021
Kate Stewart (DairyNZ) and Josh Wheeler (QCONZ) demonstrate the benefits of the MaxT at this DairyNZ farm discussion group in Manawatu… March 2021
Dairy NZ recently released a new app called Milksmart which is an amazing product developed with the help of Roby Thomas from QCONZ. This app has been created to help farmers and consultants review a farm’s current milking performance and calculate MaxT milking times… Dec 2020
The 2020 New Zealand Biosecurity awards were announced earlier this month on the 16th November at the Beehive in Wellington City. This event celebrated a range of biosecurity initiatives from Schools, individuals, community groups and industries from the length and breadth of New Zealand… Nov 2020
The announcement of the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) today is seen as an exciting opportunity for training and education in the primary industries. The Food and Fibre CoVE is one of a number of CoVEs that will be created through the Government’s Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE)… Sep 2020
Some of you may have seen a familiar face on the evening news on Wednesday. Chris Leach has been contracted to help develop the DairyNZ “Go Dairy” programme. The three week programme has been designed as an introductory course for people looking to change careers and join the Dairy Industry… July 2020
Leading training provider QCONZ has partnered with Primary ITO to deliver all off-job training for dairy farming in the lower South Island and nationwide for compliance-based training such as Milk Quality, Dealing with Farm Effluent and an introductory course for those new to milking called Milk Smart Principles… June 2020
QCONZ is very proud to announce that we have successfully tendered to be the national deliverer of farm dairy audits and associated services for Fonterra… May 2020
We at QCONZ are proud to support The #PlantASeedForSafety Project in New Zealand.
Targeted at rural women, this project shares positive stories about health, safety and wellbeing in order to influence change in rural industries and communities and boost women’s confidence in their ability to influence change… May 2020
It was a credit to our business to have Brittany Hill, a Farms Team member invited to present at the Massey University Farm Landscape Research Center Conference in February… Feb 2020
For the past two decades the auditing work of QCONZ has been helping New Zealand’s primary industry build an international reputation for sustainable, ethical and safe food production… Feb 2020
Our very own Peter Wood features here judging the New Zealand Cheese Championships!
A panel of judges at the New Zealand Cheese Championship in Auckland are tasting their way through hundreds of samples to crown the victor of the prestigious prize… Feb 2020
Technology is all around us and constantly evolving. “Business leaders are looking for ways to keep up with an ever-changing world of customer expectations and regulatory compliance,” says QCONZ general manager business development…
Participants also got a first glance of the new bobby calf-tracking application, designed for use by all members of the value chain, including farmers, transporters and processors, and being trialled at four meat plants during the autumn calving season…
QCONZ is contracted to supply milk quality consultancy advice and training in the Dairy Excellence Training Initiative project currently running in Sri Lanka. As a part of our service we offered to convert a farm KPI calculator, developed specifically…
Milk Bar has been launched in Brazil. The feedback to date has been excellent and it is good to see this project realised. See more at: www.milkbar.com.br
As a company, QCONZ is always looking to grow and diversification is key to this growth. An obvious target for us, given our expertise and core skills, is the red meat sector. On Sunday 30th July Chris Leach, Justin Moss and Peter Wood travelled down…
In May this year QCONZ embraced the chance to take over the SPCA Blue Tick animal welfare accreditation scheme as a third party auditor. The SPCA Blue Tick brand is an animal welfare accreditation scheme that carries the respect of the SPCA brand…
In conjunction with NZTE QCONZ was part of the New Zealand stand at the 2017 China Dairy Expo in Nanjing. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet with the people and get a really good understanding of the market and opportunities in China for QCONZ…
