A survey about use of statistical approach in food industry based on Six Sigma methodology

• Grant number: 07/07799-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2008
• End date: February 28, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Barbosa Santos
• Grantee: Stella Carrara Antonelli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Initiatives to improve products and processes quality have been found in the current competitiveness scene, stimulated by customers' requests and expectations. In the food industry, quality is also associated to consumer's security and implications on sanitation conditions demanded by law. Statistical use is a fundamental mechanism to reach products and processes improvement as support to get an effective quality system. In this project we purpose to analyze and describe the use of statistical thinking and statistical tools used in Six Sigma methodology in food industry context. Six Sigma is the quality program most focused in statistical approach driven to obtain tangible results not only in quality improvement of products and processes as also for increasing organization performance. Statistical thinking and statistical tools are inserted in theoretical concepts during people training in Six Sigma methodology. A survey involving food industries of São Paulo state will be used to get empirical evidences about this subject. (AU)