In this article, we share four ideas for optimising the use of shadow board storage solutions across your food production site.

Early audit data from BRCGS suggests the hygienic condition of equipment and premises is an area where food production sites need to seek improvement.

In response to this, a growing number of factories are evaluating their approach to the storage and management of small, moveable utensils. And, as a storage solution that promotes hygiene and efficiency, shadow boards are a popular choice.

With this in mind, we decided to produce a comprehensive guide to optimising the use of shadow boards at your site. By following the advice in this article, you can secure the engagement of your operatives, the approval of your customers and auditors, and a return on your initial investment.

1. Consider the size and location of your shadow board storage solutions

Shadow boards group together relevant items to reduce the risk of cross contamination, missing utensils, or equipment being used for the wrong application. They can be adapted to suit the specific needs of your site, sized to reflect the amount of equipment you wish to store.

However, before rushing in and selecting a shadow board big enough to keep all your equipment in one place, you should consider the layout of your facility and the potential benefits of choosing a selection of smaller shadow boards.

By spreading your equipment across multiple, smaller boards, you will have more flexibility in terms of keeping utensils close to the relevant areas, machinery, and production lines.

You will also make it easier for your operatives to find equipment, especially when working under time pressures or in a moment of crisis.

Take the Glass Breakage Incident Kit pictured above. By giving this kit its own dedicated shadow board, you have created the option of placing it in an area of your site that deals with glass equipment or packaging. You have also made it clearly identifiable for any operatives rushing to contain a breakage before it develops into a serious food safety incident.

2. Reinforce colour-coding and segregation

Sites typically select shadow boards that are the same colour as the equipment being stored on them. This helps to reinforce segregation and colour-coding policies, as it is extremely evident if say a red brush is hooked onto a blue board or a green squeegee makes its way onto a purple backing.

Although drawing attention to any mix-ups is half the battle, it’s still important to evaluate the processes in place for dealing with equipment that has been stored incorrectly.

One option is to ensure your shadow boards have clear messaging printed at the top – reminding operatives to only return a specific type of equipment.

Another idea is to make individual operatives responsible for the proper use of shadow boards or to incorporate effective shadow board use into department KPIs.

A final point is to ensure colour-coding and segregation is a key focus of any internal audits or inspections. On a daily basis, you and your team should be on the lookout for instances where colour-coding guidelines are being ignored. It should be seen as a collective responsibility to return any rogue equipment to the correct area and board.

3. Prioritise the effective management of your site’s equipment

The next step is to assess the quality and suitability of the equipment being stored on your shadow boards. Bringing your equipment into a highly visual space should make it easier for you and your team to identify utensils that need to be replaced – able to spot signs of damage or breakages, along with any risks of a foreign-body incident.

Instead of allowing these issues to go unchecked, you need to ensure there is a clear process in place for organising replacements. One idea is to ensure key team members have access to our Online Portal, as this will allow them to re-order favourited items or to review your order history.

Another idea is to introduce QR codes to the shadows on your boards, as this will give operatives with the correct level of authorisation the option to re-order specific utensils at the click of a button.

4. Prepare for your upcoming audits and customer visits

Whenever you are introducing new equipment to your site, it’s important to identify any opportunities to impress auditors or visiting customers.

The best way to do this is to ensure you and your team are familiar with the benefits of the solution in question – ready to share the positive impact it has had on your site.

In the case of shadow boards, you will want to highlight the fact that they are made from food-safe materials and have been designed for easy cleaning.

You should also present the boards as evidence of your site’s commitment to colour-coding and segregation, along with the safe and hygienic storage of equipment.

If you have recently installed a Klipspringer shadow board, it will likely feature our new UV-coating. If this is the case, you could highlight the fact that this durable alternative eliminates the possibility of peeling laminate. It also provides a significant reduction in the single-use plastics and waste associated with laminate, a potential boon for your sustainability targets.

The final step is to check over the Cleaning Instruction Cards and Visual Management Guides at your site – making sure everything reflects the implementation of your shadow boards. This will help you to prepare for any questions about how your team cleans the boards, along with the equipment being stored on them. It will also help you to ensure they are a point of pride during upcoming visits or inspections – clean, attractive, and embraced by your operatives.

So there you have it, a guide to optimising the use of shadow board storage solutions across your food production site. If you have any questions about the ideas shared within this article, you can contact us directly on 01473461800 or sales@klipspringer.com. Alternatively, you can fill out the contact form below and one of our friendly team members will be in touch. 

Plus, if you would benefit from further resources relating to the implementation of shadow boards, you are welcome to check out the articles linked below:

An introduction to shadow board storage solutions
Design your own shadow boards with our AI configurator
How much do shadow board storage solutions really cost?
The four most common problems with shadow boards

If you would like further guidance relating to the storage of your equipment, the Klipspringer team would be happy to help. Share your details below to arrange a free consultation.