SPC tools prevent Over-Packing, Under-Filling and help Quality Managers
Released on: February 6, 2008, 12:20 pm
Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler
Industry: Software
Press Release Summary: SPC tools prevent Over-Packing, Under-Filling and help Quality Managers
Press Release Body: In the current issue of IFSQN (International Food Safety Quality Network), manufacturing journalist Thomas R. Cutler, profiled the importance of statistical process control. Cutler suggested, "Over-packing is just giving away product; conversely if packages are under-filled the fines to regulators and damage to a company's reputation are even more costly."
According to Evan J. Miller, President and CEO of Hertzler Systems, "Net Contents programs must meet the requirements in governmental regulations for compliance to net content declarations on packaged goods. The NIST 133 standard, for example, does not specify limits for overfilling, which puts food manufacturing Quality Control managers in a difficult spot. Fill weights must be above the Maximum Allowable Variance (MAV), while simultaneously needing the average fill to be over, but as close as possible to the label declaration."
Automated tools make it easy to discover which fill heads, material suppliers, operators, product lines, and other variables have the greatest impact on process variation - individually or in combination. Armed with this information, the best decisions can be made regarding process improvements that reduce process variation and shift average fill weights closer to the declared label weights.
Lot Genealogy (Farm to Fork)
Lots of raw material significantly impact process variability; if there is a recall all products made with a particular lot of raw material must be identifiable. It is critical that food quality professionals can identify which customers received a production lot being recalled. Miller suggests, "Lot genealogy makes it easy to search for a specific raw material lot number and identify all the products made with this lot of material. Automated variation analysis can quickly compare the impact of different material lots on process variability, which can then be traced back to various raw material suppliers, or forward to various customers.
Hertzler Systems (www.hertzler.com) provides seamless, accurate data acquisition solutions that drive business transformation. The company provides the leading real-time data acquisition and analytics software, the GainSeeker Suite. This powerful and flexible system is best used by lean and progressive companies. Gainseeker Suite allows companies to connect with devices and other information systems, collecting data and alarming key personnel when problems arise; this technology allows organizations to analyze data for root cause problems, converting data into knowledge.
Hertzler Systems has been a leader in Statistical Process Control and Six Sigma for over twenty years, and includes a diverse customer base in service, transactional and manufacturing environments; clients include BAE Systems, Crown Audio, IDEX Corporation, McCormick & Company, Inc., Hormel Foods Corporation, Titleist & Footjoy, and TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Worldwide. The company\'s software and services enable clients to collect and analyze data; building a robust data infrastructure for making data-driven decisions. These capabilities help clients to reduce costs, cycle time and errors, and increase profitability.
Hertzler Systems Inc. www.hertzler.com Adrienne DePew Communications Manager info@hertzler.com 800.958.2709
Web Site: http://www.hertzler.com
Contact Details: Hertzler Systems 2312 Eisenhower Dr. N. Goshen, IN 46526 800-958-2709