Originally Published on: SpendEdge |5 Best Ways to Evaluate Starch Manufacturer’s Performance

Introduction: Ever wondered why your rice sticks together or your potato clings to the pan? The answer lies in starch, a versatile carbohydrate found in everyday foods like rice, potatoes, wheat, maize, and cassava. Serving as an efficient energy store for plants, starch also plays diverse roles in industrial applications, from fortifying textiles to shaping paper and enhancing beverage flavors. With numerous starch manufacturers globally, evaluating their performance becomes pivotal for making well-informed procurement decisions.

##Navigating the Starch Production Landscape

Starch Production Hubs: Unveiling the key regions where starch is produced provides valuable insights into market dynamics and strategic sourcing approaches.

##Supplier Evaluation Criteria in the Starch Market

###1- Service Resolution Rate

Ensuring Customer Satisfaction: A cornerstone of supplier performance lies in their responsiveness to buyer complaints, spanning starch quality, logistics, quantity, and packaging. Swift resolution within six weeks sets an ideal benchmark.

###2- Inventory Management Effectiveness

Reliability in Supply Chain: Buyers favor suppliers with robust inventory management, gauged through metrics like average lead time and safety stock. JIT adherence and automated inventory systems add further dimensions.

###3- Efficient Plant Utilization Rate

Optimizing Production Costs: Higher plant utilization rates signify lower variable costs, enabling competitive starch sourcing. The starch industry's ideal utilization rate falls within 50%-60% of total capacity.

###4- Lower Turn Around Time (TAT)

Flexibility in Response: Quick turnaround time is paramount for accommodating fluctuations in buyer demand without compromising starch quality. An ideal TAT hovers around 4-5 days from the requirement date.

###5- Logistics Capabilities

Navigating Complexities: Given the intricacies of starch transportation, evaluating suppliers' logistics prowess is crucial. The ratio of damaged shipments to delivered shipments serves as a key indicator of a supplier's efficiency.

##Optimized Procedure for Starch Preparation

###Starch Source Selection:

Tailoring to Application Needs: Choosing the appropriate starch source – be it corn, potato, rice, or wheat – aligned with the intended application ensures the desired outcome.

###Raw Material Preparation:

Ensuring Purity: Cleaning and milling raw materials eliminates contaminants and cell walls, liberating starch granules for subsequent processing.

###Extraction of Starch:

Gelatinization Process: Creating a slurry, heating, and adjusting pH initiates the gelatinization of starch granules. Introduction of enzymes aids in breaking down starch, facilitating separation from insoluble components.

###Separation and Purification:

Refining Starch: Allowing the starch slurry to settle and subsequent cleansing ensures effective separation from other components. Techniques like centrifugation or hydrocyclones further refine the starch.

###Drying and Milling:

Achieving Desired Characteristics: Applying drying methods – whether drum drying, flash drying, or air drying – eliminates excess water. Milling may follow to achieve the desired size based on the intended use.

###Quality Control and Storage:

Ensuring Compliance: Thorough testing of starch for parameters like moisture content and viscosity guarantees adherence to required specifications. Storing the starch in moisture-proof containers prevents degradation.

Discover more about the comprehensive evaluation criteria for starch manufacturers, encompassing pricing insights, sourcing strategies, key suppliers, procurement best practices, and cost modeling in an upcoming report by SpendEdge on the global starch market.

Contact us.