Deep Learning-Based Digital, Hyperspectral, and Near-Infrared (NIR) Imaging for Process-Level Quality Control in Ecuador’s Agri-Food Industry: An ISO-Aligned Framework

Ensuring consistent quality and safety in agri-food processing is a strategic priority for firms seeking compliance with international standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 22000. Traditional inspection practices in Ecuador’s food industry remain largely destructive, labor-intensive, and subjective, limiting real-time decision-making. This study developed a non-destructive, ISO-aligned framework for process-level quality control by integrating digital (RGB) imaging for surface-level inspection, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for internal-quality prediction (e.g., moisture, firmness, and freshness), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for compositional and authenticity analysis, and deep learning (DL) models for automated classification of ripeness, maturity, and defects. Experimental results across four flagship commodities—bananas, cacao, coffee, and shrimp—achieved classification accuracies above 88% and ROC AUC values exceeding 0.90, confirming the robustness of AI-driven, multimodal (RGB–HSI–NIRS) inspection under semi-industrial conveyor conditions. Beyond technological performance, the findings demonstrate that digital inspection reinforces ISO principles of evidence-based decision-making, conformity verification, and traceability, thereby operationalizing the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) cycle at digital speed. The study contributes theoretically by advancing the conceptualization of Quality 4.0 as a socio-technical transformation that embeds AI-driven sensing and analytics within management standards, and practically by providing a roadmap for Ecuadorian SMEs to strengthen export competitiveness through automated, real-time, and auditable quality assurance.