5-2 |
Consistency and a supplier's ability to delivery on quality expectations |
D. A. BAKER, DiverseyLever Consulting, 12 Broomfield Rd., New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3BL, United Kingdom The food industry needs new procedures to support the implementation of HACCP principles. These will provide a transition away from positive release methods currently used for testing in-coming raw materials and finished product. New industry quality procedures must be able to help allocate limited testing resources. The consistency of a supplier or process is the most important information derived from microbial, chemical or physical testing schemes, while attribute sampling remains most appropriate method to evaluate the acceptability of individual lots. The following paper will discuss a new strategy using microbial data to support the verification of GMP & HACCP programs. The data shown characterizes the expected performance of a process and allows discrimination between suppliers. The data provide a window to view claims of good management, while inconsistency flags “Buyer Beware”. Use of this system can drive a more efficient, focused and defensible microbiological sampling program.
Session 5, Supply chain process and quality management in the food industry
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