Download the DSA Brochure
Drainage System Assessment
Practical & Actionable Expert-Led Service
At ACO, we care deeply about food safety. The floor and its drainage are critical because everything in the facility converges there. We see the floor and drainage as a network of interconnected flows where every point can impact the entire system’s performance.
Therefore, we created the Drainage System Assessment (DSA), an expert-driven, risk-reducing service designed to proactively address critical hygiene, safety, and operational risks within your facility. Often overlooked until a serious issue arises, these risks can lead to costly downtime and production halts.
By collecting real-time, localized data and integrating it with global expertise, DSA delivers precise and accurate insights into your operations. It identifies weak points that could impact hygiene, employee safety, or production continuity. This process results in a detailed Corrective Action Plan (CAP) that prioritizes urgent, midterm, and long-term corrective measures.
DSA’s collaborative approach involves close work with your local team, ensuring that the proposed solutions are fully aligned with your facility’s specific needs, layout, production schedule, and hygiene standards.
Our service provides practical insights and actionable recommendations to minimize food safety risks and enhance your operational economic performance, while simplifying the complexity of hidden floor-related hazards.
Key Benefits
DSA is designed to uncover hidden or overlooked risks that can significantly impact production continuity.
- Enhances the understanding of the hygienic performance of drainage systems
- Identifies critical hygiene and safety risks associated with drainage and flooring
- Delivers corrective actions with specific recommendations and defined timelines
- Provides standardized solutions, including SOPs and maintenance plans
- A tailored service that respects the unique needs of your facility
Key Features
Risk-Reducing &
Non-Invasive
DSA seamlessly integrates into your HACCP plan, preventing drainage failures, hygiene incidents, and safety hazards. The non-invasive assessment is carried out with minimal disruption to production, ensuring your facility operates safely, continuously, and in compliance with food safety standards.
Collaborative
Approach
We work closely with your local team, fostering a collaborative environment to ensure DSA outputs are tailored to your facility’s challenges. Using real-time operational data with global insights, we deliver solutions that reflect local needs and best practices, enhancing performance.
The DSA Process Consists of Three Key Steps
Data
Collection
ACO’s team conducts a holistic evaluation of your drainage system and factory infrastructure, focusing on hygiene, safety, and operational risks. Prior to the assessment, we collaborate with your team to gather essential data, including plant layout, equipment specifications, IT systems, floor structures, and operational insights.
Data
Analysis
The collected data is thoroughly analyzed using ACO’s DSA system by hygienic engineering and design experts. They assess your drainage system’s performance against your facility’s requirements. After review, we compile key recommendations to resolve issues and enhance system performance.
Corrective
Action Plan (CAP)
Following the data analysis, ACO provides a comprehensive final report, detailing the key issues and offering a tailored Corrective Action Plan (CAP) that prioritizes practical corrective actions and solutions, agreed upon with the client, to optimize system performance and address all identified risks.
Trusted by Industry Leaders
We have successfully implemented our Drainage System Assessment (DSA) services with some of the largest clients in the Food & Beverage industry, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency and compliance. Our experience spans across a variety of sectors including dairy production, breweries, meat processing, confectionery, and beverage manufacturing, while ensuring strict confidentiality of our clients.
Curious How DSA Can Work for Your Facility?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the DSA classify as an audit?
No, the DSA (Drainage System Assessment) uses similar tools to those of an audit, but ACO is not an auditing body. We do not impose solutions on the customer. Instead, we evaluate the drainage system and recommend best practices based on the findings.
What are the benefits of providing a DSA to the customer?
The DSA helps customers identify and document potential issues and hazards in their facility, focusing on hygiene, food safety and health and safety. It can serve as a valuable foundation for HACCP planning. Additionally, the DSA identifies potential sources of contamination and proposes best practice solutions. It can also assist in future maintenance planning and CAPEX cost management.
How much does a DSA cost?
The cost of a DSA is calculated on a case-by-case basis, depending primarily on the size of the facility and the time required for the assessment. Travel costs from the nearest ACO DSA provider are also factored in. Generally, the price is comparable to standard audit service fees. As a reference, the price typically ranges between 1,500 and 2,000 euros per day.
Is the DSA the only service provided by ACO?
No, ACO offers additional services, including drainage design consultancy, installation supervision, and even the installation of drainage systems.
Am I obligated to purchase ACO’s proposed solutions?
No, the DSA is an independent, paid service, and customers are free to decide how to proceed with the recommendations. There is no obligation to purchase the proposed solutions from ACO.
What does ACO require from the customer to carry out the DSA? What does ACO need to perform the DSA?
ACO needs access to the facility and relevant documentation related to the drainage system, hygiene procedures, and any existing plans. It may also be helpful for ACO to have a brief consultation with the customer beforehand to understand specific areas of concern or requirements.
How long does a DSA typically take, and how is it conducted?
The duration of the DSA depends on the size and complexity of the facility. Typically, it can take from one to several days. The process involves a thorough on-site inspection of the drainage systems, identifying potential risks and inefficiencies, and gathering data to prepare a detailed report with recommendations.
What is the output of the DSA? What do I get for my money, and how long does it take?
The result of the DSA is a comprehensive report that outlines all the findings, including potential issues, risk areas, and best practice solutions. You will receive detailed recommendations tailored to your facility. The report is usually delivered within a few days to a week after the assessment, depending on the complexity.
Will the DSA provide a general or specific solution for my situation?
The DSA offers tailored recommendations specific to your facility’s needs. ACO’s best practice solutions are based on the conditions and challenges observed during the assessment, ensuring that the proposed measures address the unique aspects of your drainage system and operations.