Quality assurance is about total quality. It involves putting into place a system which identifies checks and strategies to prevent or deal with any problems, including production, storage, distribution channels and consumer feedback or complaints.
Quality Assurance is the process of verifying or determining whether or not products or services meet or exceed customer expectations, while it is a process-driven approach with specific steps to help. Quality food products have an appealing appearance, odor and flavor, which show no signs of deterioration or spoilage and are safe to eat.
Manufactured products such as biscuits, frozen vegetables, milk, fruit and grains means a consistent product in terms of shape, size and color and that the product has not been damaged or broken before it reaches the consumer.
Quality assurance is the main concern for any major food company such as SPC Ardmona, and small businesses starting out, because quality control has to be followed according to government legislation produced and past in Parliament. Occupational Health and Safety law has to be followed and company has to produce policy and procedures which center around the laws passed. The production of a top quality product is of utmost important and the health and safety of food, its production and delivering to its place to be sold must be maintained. Quality assurance means that the product being produced has to go through certain times and application standards with quality equipment which maintains a top food which is then distributed to the consumer who purchases the products off the shelves.
Without quality and good agronomic practices, the long term production of the products can be disadvantaged. Companies provide top specialist horticulturists who inspect and service the various fruit and vegetable crops processed and distributed. Management must pay attention to location, soil type, time of harvesting and expedient product delivery. Soft drinks for example are made from purified water and artificial sweeteners to make syrup instead of sugar. All of the flavors are tested for quality in a laboratory before they are converted into the syrup base for soft drinks. The mixture of a gas called carbon dioxide and the syrup base are controlled under high pressure quality assurance to ensure the right amount of bubbles are created for the finished product.
Carbon dioxide is tasteless, odorless and colorless, which occurs naturally in the world around us. The carbonated drink is transferred under pressure to the filling machines, where it is taken to the sealing machines where the bottlers are quality sealed to ensue freshness and to retain the carbonation or bubbles. Cans are still cold. If they were packed in cold condensation and moisture they would produce moisture to become wet and less manageable. At any manufacturing plant the food safety and quality assurance programs which include the testing of raw materials, packaging, production batches and the finished product to ensure they are safe and made to specification. Cans have labels printed on them before they arrive at the soft drink manufacturing plant. The cans and bottles are then packaged into cartoons for delivery to Australia and overseas customers.