QUALITY ASSURANCE IN QUALITY ASSURANCE IN THE SALT INDUSTRYTHE SALT INDUSTRY

BY

BRIAN T DANGERFIELD

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

Definition of QAOverview of QA methodology &

procedures required to deliver quality Focus on QA w.r.t salt iodization

QA is a wide-ranging concept which covers QA is a wide-ranging concept which covers all matters which individually or all matters which individually or

collectively influence the quality of a collectively influence the quality of a product. It applies to equipment, product product. It applies to equipment, product

design, supplies and logistics, management design, supplies and logistics, management and human resource development, and all and human resource development, and all elements designed to ensure that products elements designed to ensure that products

are of the quality required for their intended are of the quality required for their intended use. use.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED TOPICS TO BE COVERED Dispersion Iodizing plant capability Production lot size & sampling plans Monitoring product quality

– Interpretation of QC results– Criteria for acceptance

Communication & information flow Documentation Customer Service

DISPERSIONDISPERSION

DISPERSION DUE TO VARYING SALT FLOWDISPERSION DUE TO VARYING SALT FLOW

TYPICAL IODIZING UNITTYPICAL IODIZING UNIT

IODIZING PLANT IODIZING PLANT CAPABILITYCAPABILITY

Validation of Process– Minimum of 5 sample means from repeated tests– Variance < 2%– Relative Standard Deviation < 3%

Range of iodine < mandatory limits

Typical Process Control ChartTypical Process Control Chart

TYPICAL CONTROL CHART

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Time Intervals hrs

Iodi

ne C

onte

nt p

pm

Upper Control Limit Iodine Level ppmLow er Control Limit Upper Spec. LimitLow er Spec. Limit

PRODUCTION LOT SIZE & PRODUCTION LOT SIZE & SAMPLING PLANSAMPLING PLAN

Suitable for non-homogeneous bulk materialProduction lot size daily output of packed

product– truck size, no. of bags etc.

Minimum of 3 to 5 samples per production lot for analysis of iodine

Erroneous results from 1 sample/batch

SALT BAGGING LINESALT BAGGING LINE

MONITORING PRODUCT MONITORING PRODUCT QUALITYQUALITY

Frequency of sampling Handling of composite samplesRecording of samplesAnalysis of samplesAcceptance Criteria - statistical

– U - Ks or L + Ks Acceptance Criteria - range

COMMUNICATION & COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION FLOWINFORMATION FLOW

Short channels - small producersRouting of QC report

– Record corrective action

Use of packaging– Production lot no.– Nominal iodine content

DOCUMENTATIONDOCUMENTATION

Available for reviewRecord of QC data by sample

no./dates/production lotHolding of samplesQC Reports - larger producers

– Indicate acceptance/rejection

CUSTOMER SERVICECUSTOMER SERVICE

Customer confidence builds businessComplaints handling procedure

– Promotes supplier responsibility

Open house relationship

SUMMARY OF QA SUMMARY OF QA PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES

Set quality standardsValidate Plant Capability & MaintainDelegate responsibility for performanceMeasure output against standardsApply acceptance criteriaDefine corrective action for non-complianceFocus on quality

INCREASING AVAILABILITY INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF IODIZED SALTOF IODIZED SALT

Information required re current status by country– Problem of no or low monitoring– Lack of government resources

Surveys required to determine current status– Contract out if necessary– Example of RSA

Formulate action plan to bring non-iodizing companies