Kathy Barbeire

Kathy Barbeire

Kathy Barbeire is a seasoned professional with a strong track record in leveraging new technology, data analysis, and storytelling to drive organizational success. As the marketing manager at CAT Squared since 2015, Kathy stays updated on industry trends to ensure our products remain adaptable to evolving standards and prepares our customers for disruptive technologies. She actively participates in a blockchain learning group associated with Blockchain for Arkansas (BC4AR), an initiative led by Governor Asa Hutchinson. Kathy's expanding knowledge and expertise enable her to create informative content that educates our supply chain partners and helps them navigate upcoming transitions. Kathy's educational background includes graduating magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional and technical writing, along with double minors in sociology and information technology. She later completed the MBA program at UALR. Prior to joining CAT Squared, Kathy applied her passion for data-driven storytelling to assist nonprofits in defining goals, tracking program metrics, and engaging donors and community stakeholders. She served as a program manager at the Our House Homeless Shelter in Little Rock and later at The Salvation Army Central Arkansas Area Command.

Recent posts by Kathy Barbeire

2 min read

CAT Squared to showcase the only end-to-end MES for the food industry at Anuga FoodTec

By Kathy Barbeire on Feb 27, 2024 12:14:39 PM

CAT Squared, a leading global provider of software solutions for the food industry, is pleased to demonstrate the capabilities of the only end-to-end MES for the food industry at Anuga FoodTec in Cologne, Germany. This event marks the company's first appearance at one of the prominent international trade fairs dedicated to food technology and innovation.

Topics: food processing continuous improvement industry 4.0
2 min read

CAT Squared Joins CTB Sister Companies to Present CYNERGY™: Advancing Poultry Processing at IPPE

By Kathy Barbeire on Dec 29, 2023 1:01:01 PM

CAT Squared, a trusted provider of advanced software solutions for the food processing industry, collaborates with CTB sister companies Chore-Time, Meyn, and Cabinplant to unveil CYNERGY™ at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) from January 30 to February 1, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Topics: poultry industry continuous improvement industry 4.0
2 min read

CAT Squared and Meyn Debut CYNERGY at Alimentaria FoodTech 2023

By Kathy Barbeire on Oct 23, 2023 2:51:26 PM

BARCELONA, SPAIN — Alimentaria FoodTech 2023 witnessed the impressive showcase of CYNERGY™, a collaborative effort between CAT Squared and Meyn. While Meyn's expertise primarily focuses on first processing in poultry production, CAT Squared's MES software solution covers a broader spectrum of functionalities: managing first processing, secondary processing, and further processing in meat, poultry, and RTC/RTE (ready-to-cook/ready-to-eat) food production.

3 min read

CAT Squared Supports Meat Industry Sustainability through Protein PACT Partnership

By Kathy Barbeire on Oct 6, 2023 12:46:29 PM

The release of the Protein PACT's 2023 Continuous Improvement Report marks a significant milestone in the ongoing journey toward sustainability within the meat industry. It's a testament to the collective efforts of industry leaders, and CAT Squared is proud to play a key supportive role in these transformative endeavors.

Topics: meat industry poultry industry continuous improvement sustainability Protein PACT
2 min read

CAT Squared Exhibiting at the 2023 Poultry Symposium for Production & Processing

By Kathy Barbeire on Aug 25, 2023 3:10:55 PM

The countdown has begun for the 2023 Poultry Symposium for Production & Processing, set to take place from October 9 to 11, 2023, at the Rogers Convention Center in Rogers, AR. You can find CAT Squared at booth 21. We are excited to connect with industry peers, showcase our solutions, and discuss the latest developments in poultry processing technology.

2 min read

CAT Squared: Paving the Way for Sustainability at the Protein PACT Summit 2023

By Kathy Barbeire on Aug 25, 2023 12:33:10 PM

In an era defined by transformative change and unwavering sustainability commitments, the meat industry stands at a crossroads of innovation, responsibility, and progress. CAT Squared proudly announces its sponsorship of the North American Meat Institute's (NAMI) 2023 Protein PACT (People, Animals, Climate of Tomorrow) Summit, a dynamic event that crystallizes the collective determination to shape a responsible and sustainable future for the industry.

Topics: meat industry poultry industry continuous improvement sustainability Protein PACT
3 min read

CAT Squared and Meyn Unveil  CYNERGY Solution at Alimentaria FoodTech

By Kathy Barbeire on Aug 14, 2023 2:53:06 PM

CAT Squared, a leading provider of advanced software solutions for the food industry, and Meyn, a global leader in poultry processing solutions, are proud to announce the joint presentation of their groundbreaking CYNERGY™ solution at Alimentaria FoodTech. The event is scheduled to take place from September 26th to 29th, 2023, at Fira Barcelona - Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. Industry professionals are invited to experience the future of poultry processing and food production at Booth D82.
 
CYNERGY™ represents a cutting-edge collaboration between Meyn and CAT Squared, leveraging the strengths of both companies to deliver a comprehensive and intelligent solution that transforms the poultry processing industry. The innovative technology combines Meyn's expertise in poultry processing equipment with CAT Squared's advanced software suite, providing seamless integration and real-time data analysis for enhanced production efficiency and quality control.
 
At Booth D82, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the following key features of CYNERGY™:
 
Poultry Processing Excellence: CYNERGY™ showcases Meyn's state-of-the-art poultry processing equipment, renowned for its precision, speed, and reliability. Attendees will witness firsthand how the machinery optimizes the entire processing line, from evisceration and cutting to deboning and portioning.
 
Real-time Data Insights: CAT Squared's advanced software suite seamlessly integrates with Meyn's processing equipment, offering real-time data insights on key performance indicators. This data-driven approach empowers decision-makers with actionable information to enhance production efficiency, reduce downtime, and minimize waste.
 
Traceability and Quality Assurance: CYNERGY's farm-to-fork traceability solution, powered by CAT Squared, ensures complete transparency throughout the supply chain. From tracking the origin of raw materials to monitoring quality metrics, food manufacturers gain confidence in delivering safe and traceable products to consumers.
 
Compliance and Food Safety: With a focus on meeting industry-specific regulations and certifications, CYNERGY™ streamlines compliance management, reducing the risk of food safety incidents and ensuring adherence to international standards.
 
AI-driven Insights: AI capabilities enabled by the CYNERGY™ Cloud delivers predictive maintenance insights, optimizing equipment performance and prolonging the lifespan of processing machinery.
 
"We are thrilled to introduce CYNERGY™ at Alimentaria FoodTech," said Vernon Smith, CEO at CAT Squared. "This revolutionary solution represents the convergence of two industry leaders, Meyn and CAT Squared, to redefine the future of poultry processing. CYNERGY™ empowers food manufacturers with a level of automation, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making that sets new industry standards."
 
"CYNERGY™ is the result of a synergistic collaboration between Meyn and CAT Squared," said Eric-Jan Radstake, Chief Innovation Officer at Meyn. "By combining Meyn's best-in-class poultry processing equipment & software programs with CAT Squared's powerful software suite, we are delivering a solution that not only enhances productivity but also elevates food safety and quality throughout the entire production process."
 
Don't miss this opportunity to witness the future of poultry processing and food production. Join Meyn and CAT Squared at Booth D82 during Alimentaria FoodTech in Barcelona, Spain, from September 26th to 29th, 2023. Experience CYNERGY™ firsthand and learn how it can transform your poultry processing operations.
 
CONTACT:
 
CAT Squared: Guillermo Milman, Technical Sales Manager Iberoamérica, Guillermo.Milman@catsquared.com, +34 635 507 140  
 
MEYN: Albert Ribalta, Commercial Director, Meyn Food Equipment Iberica, aribalta@meyn.com  +34 620043209
 
About Meyn:
Meyn is a leading global supplier of innovative poultry processing solutions, offering a comprehensive range of equipment and services to poultry processors worldwide. With a commitment to excellence, Meyn's cutting-edge technology and reliable machinery set the industry standard, ensuring efficient and high-quality poultry processing operations.
 
About CAT Squared:
CAT Squared is a trusted provider of advanced software solutions for the food and beverage manufacturing industry. The company's software suite empowers food manufacturers with real-time data insights, traceability solutions, and predictive analytics to optimize production processes, enhance food safety, and ensure compliance with industry standards.

2 min read

CASE STUDY: Improved Data Quality Saves $ Millions

By Kathy Barbeire on May 19, 2023 12:07:01 AM

A case study coauthored by GS1 US and Nestlé Professional demonstrates that good data governance saves time and money while providing transparency and trust to the customers.

Topics: food traceability GS1 Standards data quality management
1 min read

Fieldale Farms Implements RFID Technology to Enhance Traceability

By Kathy Barbeire on May 3, 2023 11:42:55 AM

In 2022, Fieldale Farms received a customer request to implement new traceability requirements. The customer’s goal was to increase traceability transparency for their consumers, eliminate manual scanning at all levels of their supply chain, improve their inventory accuracies, and build consumer trust. Fieldale brought in CAT Squared to build seamless integrations between the traceability platform and plant-floor hardware to meet the customer’s request.

"CAT Squared helped us achieve the goals our customer asked for by providing new developments in RFID technology systems," said Cameron Smith, IT plant liaison at Fieldale Farms Corporation. Because CAT Squared’s plant-floor solutions are hardware- and software-agnostic, the team was easily able to integrate with readers from Zebra Technologies, software from Mojix, and labeling systems from Avery Dennison.

The customer’s RFID program required Fieldale to incorporate label attributes that comply with the GS1 Foodservice traceability program. The GS1-128 barcodes are scanned throughout the supply chain, capturing the physical location and context of specific products, their lot numbers, production dates, and expiration dates. RFIDs rely on the serialization of each case and linking that serial number to a product commissioning event.

To meet that requirement, CAT Squared handled the encoding (and decoding) of serials to SGTIN-96 (Serialized Global Trade Identification Number) for creating the RFID labels. The system then transmitted Fieldale’s production data by product to Mojix for commissioning events.

In addition to meeting their customer’s requirements, the RFID initiative is anticipated to save Fieldale time on inventory management and stock rotation, mitigate human error, and increase expiration date visibility. Ultimately, the goal is to create a more transparent supply chain through a best-in-class traceability system to enable safety, efficiency, and the verification of food with integrity.

Topics: Traceability technology food traceability GS1 Standards
2 min read

Webinar: Building a Framework for Digital Success

By Kathy Barbeire on Apr 13, 2023 12:39:47 PM

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) with the support of CAT Squared will present "Building a Framework for Digital Success," a webinar sharing industry best practices for technology adoption for meat and poultry producers.

Topics: meat industry poultry industry continuous improvement multi-site benchmarking