A study of food chain improvement initiatives and quality tools

Abstract

Consulta en la Biblioteca ETSI Industriales (9214)

[EN] This thesis introduces the most relevant quality initiatives and tools, and explains which of their objectives are related to the food and drink sector. The aim is to identify key business improvement tools that will help to advance the efficiency and environmental performance of food chains. For that purpose, an extend literature review was conducted, investigating all the definitions and explanations of relevant terms, as well as the current implementation of these initiatives and tools both within the UK and internationally. A study based on articles and expert opinions was developed in order to identify the most relevant tools used by SMEs. This research also included the actual situation of the food chain in the UK, and changes that are currently being implemented, as well as food trends and examples of best practices in the sector. A survey was carried out between small, medium and large companies in the UK, confirming that there exists a gap between the level of knowledge of improvement measures and the degree of implementation. However, the use of these initiatives is relatively new, Six Sigma above all. Additionally, the companies currently using them believe that these initiatives have a positive influence in the performance of their businesses. Keywords: Six Sigma, TQM, BPR, ISO-9000, Lean, Survey, Efficiency, Optimisation, Environmental Performance