Week 5 Discussion 1 & 2 BUS 624/625 Response

BUS625 Week 5 - Discussion Response

Guided Response: Your initial response should be a minimum of 300 words in length. Respond to at least two of your classmates by commenting on their posts. In your response, compare your classmate’s quality control technique to your own, and comment on potential areas of improvement. Though two replies are the basic expectation for class discussions, for deeper engagement and learning, you are encouraged to provide responses to any comments or questions

Below there are two of my classmate’s discussion that needs I need to response to their names are Jamie Choate and Umadevi Sayana

Jamie Choate

Overseeing quality control is a very important job that cannot be taken lightly.  You must not only adhere to the standards of your company but you must also adhere to standards of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

My company produces candy, which is packaged in 12 oz. packages.  We must ensure that the packages are filled properly and not over or under filled.  This will ensure that we are aligned with regulations, maintain profit, and minimize customer complaints. 

Based on NIST regulations, we are allowed a weight variation of 9/16 oz., which equates to .5625 oz. (NIST, 2020).  This will give us a total weight range tolerance of 1.125 oz.  The USL will be set at 12.5625 (mean + .5625).  The LSL will be set at 11.4375 (mean - .5625).

I recommend that we use an X chart to control the process.  The X chart is a control chart that will display the averages of samples taken from the process over time (Sharpe et al., 2019).  I am choosing the X chart because it is more feasible to use than a control chart since a control chart samples every item whereas the X chart tests less frequently.  The X chart is also less likely to give us a false alarm since a sample of the size is more near normal than individual observations (Sharpe et al., 2019).  We will still set the LSL and the USL on the chart and we will test a sample versus individually.  We will chart the deviations to ensure that the sample average is within range of our allowable deviations and will easily be able to spot when the process is out of control. 

This process will be accepted by federal regulators.  According to NIST, the following is required when testing weight:

· Identify and define the inspection lot

· Select the sampling plan

· Record inspection data

· Select the random sample

· Select and determine tare (NIST,  Appendix, Table 2-1)

· Determine nominal gross weight and package errors

· Evaluate compliance with the Maximum Allowable Variation (MAV) requirement and the average requirement (NIST, 2020)

Using the X chart will align with this federal process.  You can determine the amount of samples you want tested based on the recommended tare.  I would recommend going slightly above the recommended tare in company sampling. 

The X chart would alert us when the process was out of control.  When we are notified that the process is out of control, it does not necessarily mean that something is wrong with the process but instead in is signaling that there is a change in the system (Sharpe et al., 2019).  We would need to take action to determine the cause of the special cause variation.  If the change turns out to not be a beneficial change, we will need to act quickly to repair the issue and come back in alignment.  If it is a detrimental change, and the process is deemed out of control, we will need to take action and possibly stop production until the issue is resolved (Sharpe et al., 2019).  If this had never occurred before we would put a team together to examine possible causes for the issue and develop a corrective action plan which would be implemented and monitored.  In order to help reduce future impacts due to the same issue, I would take lessons learned and create an out-of-control action plan that would list the steps to take to correct the issue. 

 

NIST. (2020). Handbook 133, Checking the Net Content of Packaged Goods (2020). Appendix A, Table 2-5. Maximum Allowable Variations (MAVs) for Packages Labeled by Weight. Retrieved from https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures/handbook-133-2020-current-version (Links to an external site.)

NIST. (2020). Handbook 133, Checking the Net Content of Packaged Goods (2020). Appendix A, Table 2-1. Sampling Plans for Category A. Retrieved from https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures/handbook-133-2020-current-version (Links to an external site.)

NIST. (2020). Handbook 133, Checking the Net Content of Packaged Goods (2020). Pg. 17. Test Procedures for Packages Labeled by Weight. Retrieved from https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures/handbook-133-2020-current-version (Links to an external site.)

Sharpe, N. D., De Veaux, R. D., & Velleman, P. F. (2019). Business statistics (4th ed.). Retrieved from https://www.redshelf.com (Links to an external site.)

Umadevi Sayana

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission regulate the package weight of food products. NIST has the authority to define the measures and weights, working with the states in securing the weights uniformity in the candy packages. The packagers are supposed to use the NIST Handbook “Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulations.” (NIST, 2011). Quality managers encouraged to follow the weights and measures while inspecting the packages to check the compliance according to the requirements.

The quality control process helps to develop a uniform product in order to sustain consumer acceptance. Moreover, regulating the weight helps to control the cost in order to get a return on investment and help to comply with guidelines of government regulations. Regarding the candy scenario, a package with both underweight and overweight fail the compliance regulations and adds additional costs by reducing the profits.

As a Quality control manager of candy production would like to follow the Shewhart chart called the control chart, which detects the corrects causes of variation. Will follow the process of the PDCA cycle, which in the Plan stage defines and identifies the process improvements (Sharpe et al.,2019). Do stage implementing the pilot level strategies, Check stage, examine those strategies as finally Acting stage implement those depending on outcomes.

The maximum allowable variation according to NIST guidelines for a 12oz volume is 0.5625 oz. The control chart monitors the observation to be at a certain distance of mean or not. If points fall outside of control limits, it is a signal for the process improvement. The upper specification limit (USL) 12+0.5625=12.56562oz and so the bag of each candy should not weigh more than this and at least weigh lower specification limit (LSL) of 12-0.5625-= 11.437 oz as standard. The width measured here is USL-LSL=1.125 oz, which is the acceptable range of tolerance. In the packing section number of candies per pack also needs to be accurate. After establishing the baseline standards, two control charts, X Bar and Range R bar, developed. The data collected is a certain number of sample examples, 35 samples with each subgroup of 10 in certain days., each day divided into specific groups again. Then evaluate the randomly taken samples out of 35 groups containing 10 in each subgroup, and its weight is measured. Among the bar charts, the average of 10 measurements. Among those groups, the subgroup with the highest and lowest value noted down. Taking consideration of USL and LSL subgroups that fall within control and out of control is observed. The out of control groups analyzed further. Another method is process capability determining the mean, standard deviation parameters. They both should need to be constant, and deviating factors represent the control out of the process (Sharpe et al.,2019). The government will approve the process because it is following the mentioned maximum allowable value weights (MAV). Also, control charts help to define the in or out of control with the mean values. Moreover, it helps the companies proactively to address the defects when required.

The technique that limits out of control packages is through the sample groups falling out of USL and LSL in the graphs. Through the X charts, several checkpoints rules like falling outside or below three sigmas, sample groups range falling on the same side. Also, sample groups of eight points on the same side, consequential points falling beyond specific mean categorize as out of limit packages (Sharpe et al.,2019). Out of action control plan is implemented to correct this action.

References:

NIST. (2011). Handbook 133, Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods (2011). Table 2-5. Maximum Allowable Variations (MAVs) for Packages Labeled by Weight. https://www.nist.gov/document/08-appa-11-hb133-finalpdf (Links to an external site.)

Sharpe, N. D., De Veaux, R. D., & Velleman, P. F. (2019). Business statistics (4th ed.). https://www.redshelf.com