EXPERT-SYSTEMS - WHAT CAN THEY DO FOR THE FOOD-INDUSTRY

In the food industry the conventional solution for controlling a proce ss is manual application of subjective expert knowledge in the form of rules of thumb. Until recently, replacing the human expert by compute r technology has been relatively slow in comparison with other process industries. Novel tools of artificial intelligence such as fuzzy and case-based reasoning, expert (knowledge-based) systems and neural netw orks offer great possibilities for the food industry, yet relatively l ittle information on bioprocess applications has been published. Fuzzy expert systems have been shown to be a valuable tool in dealing with vague and incomplete information, and in incorporating human expert kn owledge into process models and control. This paper discusses the stat e-of-the-art of expert systems and their potential for food-related ap plications. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.