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Potato Chip Problems

Using Basic Quality Tools to Solve Food Quality Issues

By Helen S. Joyner, Brennan Smith

Potato Chip Problems


 

Abstract

In this case study, students assume the role of a quality assurance team that is in charge of determining potential causes and solutions for potato chip bags that open during the shipping process. Students will use basic quality control tools to evaluate the process, brainstorm potential causes, determine the most likely cause of the problem, and develop potential solutions for the problem. A couple of the case exercises require students to create fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams. A summative writing assignment and a set of optional questions for further exploration are included. This case study is appropriate for courses focusing on quality management in industrial settings, as well as a general undergraduate statistics or experimental design course.

   

Date Posted

11/21/2016

Overview

Objectives

  • Apply basic quality tools (e.g., process flow diagrams, fishbone diagrams) to a given food process.
  • Compare different potential causes for a process problem and select the most likely cause given information about the process.
  • Develop potential solutions for a process problem.
  • Explain how to use basic quality tools to determine the effectiveness of potential solutions to a processing issue.

Keywords

quality assurance; block diagram; flow diagram; manufacturing; root cause analysis; process monitoring; statistical quality; quality tools; food quality; stale; fishbone diagram; Ishikawa; QI macros

  

Subject Headings

Food Science / Technology
Interdisciplinary Sciences
Statistics

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate upper division, Graduate, Professional (degree program), Continuing education

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Analysis (Issues), Discussion

 

 

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