Even though approximately 2% of 63 million tons of food wasted by weight can be attributed to the manufacturing industry, a staggering $2 billion of loss is attributed to this sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food manufacturing "transforms livestock and agricultural products into products for intermediate or final consumption". In other words, a manufacturing process is implemented which creates a marketable product out of different components/ingredients. Despite the use of automated processes, quality testing, and strict processing standards, there is still room for food waste to be generated.
World Resources Institute has developed a measurement and reporting standard for food waste:
Food Loss and Waste Reporting Standard
EPA has developed a guide on how to conduct and analyze a food waste assessment:
EPA Food Waste Assessment