Quality Assurance

• A process, not an end-point

• Must be independent of financial pressures
• Must ensure that quality policies are
followed
• Must have final authority in product
acceptance, rejection and release to public
• Integral to production, not an add-on
• Responsible for day-to-day operations and
for longer term goal settings
• Quantitative discipline with specified
parameters
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 DEFINITIONS

• QUALITY
• The totality of features and
characteristics of a food product and its
ability to satisfy stated and/or implied
needs
• QUALITY ASSURANCE
• The sum total of the organized
arrangements made with the object of
ensuring that food products are of the
quality required for their intended use.
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 DEFINITIONS

• GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE

(GMP)
• That part of QA which ensures that
products are consistently produced
and controlled to the quality
standards appropriate to their
intended use.
• QUALITY CONTROL
• That part of GMP which is concerned
with sampling, specifications and
testing. 3
Quality relationships

QA
GMP
QC

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Quality relationships

Quality Management

Quality Assurance

GMP

Quality Control
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 FACTORS IN QUALITY ASSURANCE

LEGISLATIVE IMPORT
FRAMEWORK & EXPORT
-REGULATIONS CONTROL PACKAGING

HUMAN LABELLING &

RESOURCES- PRODUCT
PROFESSIONALS INFROMATION

PRODUCT
RAW QUALITY
MATERIALS- QC &
ACTIVE & ANALYSIS
INACTIVE

TRANSPORT
MANUFACURING DISTRIBUTION
PROCESSES DISPENSING
STORAGE & USE
& PROCEDURES
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 Quality Assurance
Primary Functions

• Quality Control
• Analytical testing of products

• Active and Non active material control

• Sampling, inspecting and testing of incoming raw
materials

• Packaging and labeling components

• Bottles, caps, foils, labels, measures, cartons

• Physical inspection of product and operations at critical

intermediate stages
• In-process controls, HACCP

• Control of product through its distribution 7

• GSP, GDP ETC
 Quality Must Be Designed
Into A Product
• Quality is not an add-on: it begins with
research and development
• Product quality criteria must be
established
• Detailed specifications provide
quantitative parameters for measurement
• Written procedures document how quality
is attained and maintained
• Continuous monitoring (sampling, testing)
to confirm quality is being built-into
product 8
Quality Assurance: Essential
At All Stages
Quality Assurance Cycle

Research
Development
Raw Materials
Facilities
Documentation
Equipment
Personnel

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 Elements of the Quality
Assurance Cycle in Food
Manufacturing
• Research
• Development
• Prototyping
• Documentation
• Raw Materials
• Facilities
• Equipment
• Personnel and Supervision
• Monitoring, Feedback, Follow-up
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