What is Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturer (CAM) in food technology?
ICT is an exciting and fast moving area within food product design and manufacture. Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture are just one part of this. We should learn about such applications as part of understanding food in the modern world.
Computer aided design - using a computer, or computer-aided devices, to aid design
Examples include:
- use of graphics packages for developing and communicating food product ideas, plus packaging and labelling design
- modelling on computer (spreadsheets and databases) including costing, recipe quantities and ratios, nutritional analysis, HACCP, planning and systems diagrams - all part of product design and development
- use of Internet and software for research and investigation to support the development of ideas for food products
Computer aided manufacture - using a computer, or computer-aided devices, to aid manufacture
Ensuring that students make use of CAM in their own making is more dependent upon specialist resources that may not yet be available (or necessary) in all schools. However, there are a number of economical solutions.
It counts as CAM, ie. using a computer to aid the making process, if students:
- show an awareness in their coursework about where CAM could be used, egs. how CAM would be used to control a production system
- consider how taste, texture, appearance and aroma are controlled
- carry out controlled testing for quality checks, egs. temperature, pH monitoring and data-logging linked to a computer
- create digital images using a digital camera and scanner, or an Intel electronic microscope -
- work out temperature and cooking times for a product they are developing using ovens and microwaves that can be electronically set and controlled
- use accurate electronic scales, and work within set parameters of accuracy, when developing and trialling recipes and specifications
- work out a HACCP flowchart on computer, then check it out in practice, modifying plans where necessary
- simulate computer controlled manufacturing processes, egs. with an electronic bread making machine or cake decorating software.
- control the manufacture of their products with tunnel/conveyor ovens which are available
