Quality starts at the loading bay
Why the checks on incoming raw materials shape everything that follows on the production line.
In food manufacturing, a large share of quality problems can be traced back to what came through the door.
Sampling and analysing incoming raw materials is not glamorous work, but it is where risk is cheapest to catch. A rejected batch at the loading bay costs far less than a recall.
Good incoming inspection depends on clear specifications, consistent sampling and honest communication with suppliers.
It taught me to think of quality as something you build in from the start, not something you test for at the end.