If your goal is 100% consistent product, it may be time to reconsider some of your standard operating procedures. A process service company called Thinkage challenges food processors to take the road less traveled. According to Thinkage President Mark Grace, variation-defined as deviation from product specifications and operating procedures and standards-is created as product moves through the manufacturing process.
Traditionally, efforts to control variation have focused on end-of-the-line quality control or fine-tuning pieces of process equipment. Grace says product variation can be eliminated, but only by controlling the state of the product as it moves through the manufacturing process.