Quality Management and SMS - Essay Example

Running Head: Quality Management and SMS Quality Management and SMS The term quality control refers to those aspects or steps which are implemented to ensure quality goods or services. Quality control is a mechanism which is continuously being implemented to keep abreast of all the changes in the society. In this paper, I will narrow down to a food processing plant and its quality control initiatives. Some of the quality control approaches in the food industry are; improving on detection of food borne diseases, investigating on food borne diseases, monitoring on potential and hazardous foods with microbial contamination, development of technologies capable of identifying microbial organisms, modernization in packaging of foods and increased awareness on microbiology education to the general public.

In conjunction with principles of quality control, these issues should be addressed (Besterfield, 2004). Food poisoning is a result of poor handling of food stuffs by either the customers or employees in an organization. With the rise in food poisoning in the world, food processing organizations have stipulated mechanisms to curb this menace and ensure customer safety. Suppliers are graded and assessed to determine the quality of products they deliver to the plant for processing. This is a supplier manufacturer principle, which depicts that suppliers must be trustworthy and able to deliver quality and cost effective products (Hutter, 2011).

Principle of customer focus; this relates to the customer needs and wants. A customer will basically want to consume safe and healthy food. As a manager, there should be concentration on ensuring that the customer is always safe from infections. Packaging of the food is very important since it is what depicts and demonstrates how important and secure the customers feel. Consumer protection authorities also play an important role in the company; often times they come at intervals and check on the processing plants this tends to cement on the work of the operation controller (Besterfield, 2004).

Process approach; a serine and performing company will opt to efficiency and effectiveness. The wastes in the company should be properly deposited to avoid breeding grounds for micro-organisms which may in turn be harmful and infectious. Take a case of a cake bakery, the bakery has to ensure that it maintains cleanliness by ensuring that any wastes that may be experienced is dumped in the right place (Hutter, 2011). Continual improvement techniques will help see the company operate in an efficient and clean environment.

Machines in a food processing plant are prone to dirt and decomposition due to the nature of the products they process. If these machines are not continually improved or replaced then there will be higher chances of contamination of the food. Technology should be a stepping stone to ensure quality in the most efficient manner (Chorafas, 2013). Proper decision making techniques; decisions should be left to be handled by a single individual because of the critical nature of the operations. It will be easier to address any arising situation should need be.

Right mixture of different components should be determined and devised. Decisions on such matters should never be rashly made; customers should be adequately taken care of in a more coherence manner to avert any complications (Chorafas, 2013). As can be seen food processing like any other sector, must instill safety measures to curb infections. If these products are never assessed and processed under the stipulated conditions then problems will arise; decomposition and expiry dates will never match the right and correct dates given since the whole process was marred by several shortcomings.

Hence, safety is a requirement under the consumer and health policies; this will be harnessed by technology.ReferencesBesterfield, D. H. (2004). Quality control. Delhi, India: Pearson Education.Chorafas, D. N. (2013). Quality control applications. London: Springer.Hutter, B. M. (2011). Managing food safety and hygiene: Governance and regulation as risk management. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.