FSQA*6150 - Food Quality Assurance Management

Course Description

Examination and review of principles and concept of quality assurance and their application to consumer products and services. Topics include applied aspects of total-quality management principles.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the learner should be able to:

1. Apply generic principles of quality management to specific situations of food quality assurance management in order to achieve best practices that are key to business success;
2. Identify the contribution of each step of the food supply to a product’s quality;
3. Outline differences, commonalities and applicability of quality management systems in the food industry;
4. Show the importance of management system standards and regulations, and their role in the process of food quality assurance management;
5. Discuss a systems approach to elucidating the role of each stakeholder in a food quality assurance management system;
6. Identify and apply procedures for data collection, recording, analysis, and interpretation in quality management systems;
7. Assess the use of various tools and approaches to process improvement, process management, and performance management;
8. Analyze the role of quality measures and data integration in food traceability;
9. Examine the financial/reputation effects of quality systems programs performance;
10. Interpret organizational culture as it relates to a combination of technical tools and people practices; and
11. Discuss sustainability and holistic management as applied to food quality management systems.

Course Topics

• Quality concepts and perspectives
• Total Quality Management (TQM) and the role of attributes, specifications, and standards
• Statistical methods in quality assurance
• Key elements and stakeholders in quality management systems
• Measures and control
• Quality management systems (QMS) in the food supply
• Implementing a quality system in the food industry
• Optimization vs. resilience & sustainability
• Traceability
• Big Data, IoT, and AI in food quality systems
• Integration and review of concepts

Assessment