Problems Drive Progress and Personal Development Problems are a normal part of everyday life, and humans have an innate desire to solve them. Solving them has helped humanity evolve from a nomadic group of hunter-gathers to a technologically advanced society. These skills enable an individual or team to manage difficult or unexpected situations within…
Take A Team Oriented Approach A root cause investigation can be conducted by one person, but the investigator will usually require external assistance to support the process and verify its outcomes1. Applying a team orientated approach can lead to a better understanding of how and why a problem occurred because people working collaboratively…
We have created this article to help root cause investigators understand why data collection and analysis is important, common pitfalls to avoid and how to gather data analysis. The article is also useful for those with technical/quality assurance roles and members of the HACCP Team. Why is it important? Data collection…
Root cause analysis, if correctly applied, can determine the real causes of a problem. The five whys is a common approach within the food manufacturing sector and helps prevent unsafe food from reaching the consumer. We outline important considerations in using this famous problem-solving tool and a step-by-step guide for its effective implementation. This article…
Root cause analysis is an important element within an effective HACCP management system. Selecting the right problem-solving tool will help identify real causes, which means the time and effort is not wasted on futile corrective and preventative measures. We discuss one of the most popular methods for investigating the root causes of…
What is a decision? Making decisions are part of everyday life. They can be rational and deliberate or intuitive and spotaneous1.The process is about making a cognitive choice between two or more alternatives. Decisions are made to achieve a specific purpose and decided individually or collectively within a group of people1. Encouraging wider participation in…
What is Root Cause Analysis? A problem is a situation with unwelcome or harmful consequences that needs to be resolved. Root cause analysis is a systematic approach that investigates how and why problems occur. Correct identification of root causes and controlling them with appropriate preventive measures can significantly reduce a recurrence of the same problem1.…
PDCA and Food Safety Culture PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) is a simple but effective methodology for continuous improvement for any quality management systems. The British Standards Institute has recently published informative guidance in how food business operators (FBO) can implement a positive food safety culture. This guidance (PAS 320) builds on the GFSI positional paper on…
What is a food management system? A food safety management system are policies and procedures that are essential for any food business operator that wants to ensure the quality and safety of its products. This involves complying with minimum regulatory requirements, implementing effective prerequisite programmes (PRPs) and for most businesses procedures based on the principles…
Pre-requisite Programmes Prerequisite programs (PRPs) are required for any type of food business, whether for food manufacturers, caterers or retail food stores. They focus on product, people and premises and include Good Agricultural Practices, Good Hygiene Practices Good Manufacturing Practices as well as other practices and procedures such as training and traceability. Effective PRPs provide…