Title: Analysis and selection of glass bottle traceability technologies in the beer production chain

Authors: Carolina Xavier da Silva Seixas Rocha; Aldara da Silva César; Cecilia Toledo Hernández; Ualison Rébula de Oliveira; Fabiane Letícia Lizarelli

Addresses: Department of Agribusiness Engineering, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), 420, Avenida dos Trabalhadores, Av., Volta Redonda, 27255-125, Brazil ' Department of Agribusiness Engineering, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), 420, Avenida dos Trabalhadores, Av., Volta Redonda, 27255-125, Brazil ' Production Engineering Department, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), 420, Avenida dos Trabalhadores, Av., Volta Redonda, 27255-125, Brazil ' Administration Department, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), 783, Desembargador Ellis Hermydio Figueira, St., Volta Redonda, 24213-145, Brazil ' Production Engineering Department, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR), Rod. Washington Luiz, São Carlos, Brazil

Abstract: This paper discusses investments in new equipment for the tracking of food products, especially from the glass bottle industry that serves the beer market. Three technologies - laser, CO₂ laser, and QR code - as well as the criteria (security, cost, performance and social) to assist in decision making were raised in light of the literature and validated through interviews with internal expert stakeholders in the glass container industry. This research is a timely response to studying traceability technologies and criteria in the packaging industry and in the food chain. The analyses were performed using the analytic network process (ANP) method, which indicated that the safety (46.8%) and social (29.9%) criteria have the greatest weights in decision-making for the studied industry. The results indicate the superiority of selection of QR code technology for deployment in the industry that is the focus of this study.

Keywords: food traceability; multi-criteria decision support methods; analytic network process; ANP; laser; CO₂ laser; QR code.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2025.144340

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2025 Vol.44 No.2, pp.178 - 204

Received: 29 Mar 2023
Accepted: 02 Apr 2023
Published online: 10 Feb 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article