A NEW CREATIVITY TOOL TO ASSIST FOOD PROCESSING EQUIPMENT DESIGN

A knowledge-based tool was implemented in order to assist in the design of food processing equipment. It was developed and suggested for the use of professionals who are seeking creative solutions for processing principles in a given context and under specific constraints, especially in the context of weak knowledge of food engineering and material properties, poor economic conditions, and impossibility of efficient use of existing design methodologies. This is usually the case in many developing countries where equipment supply is mostly limited to copies and adaptations of a few models despite the big size of small scale food processing sector, which results in the use of unsuitable equipment, lack of efficiency, and bad quality. This new tool uses knowledge-based methodology starting with the identification of the most useful function (MUF) to be achieved in order to identity the main product property change, hence leading to the implementation of the targeted product. MUFs are linked to scientific effects that can achieve them in order to suggest designers a wide range of potential solutions. To facilitate and orient access to useful knowledge for a given problem of food processing principles, this tool is designed using a database program and links to related and existing web-based sites. Selection of optimal equipment types is finally carried out by combining users' manufacturing skills and specifications in terms of cost, maintenance and current use scheme.