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Production Excellence

Farmers and food processors can learn from other industries and use proven techniques that help to reduce cost and improve quality.  Many such approaches are available but our work has focussed on two – Masterclasses and PROBE.

Masterclasses were developed in the motor industry and are delivered by specialists working for the SMMT Industry Forum.  All Masterclasses involve ‘learning by doing’ and are conducted on the shop floor or in the field over a period of 3 months.  They aim to maximise the potential of available resources by reducing waste and through better organisation.

The Food Chain Centre is piloting Masterclasses in Fresh Produce.  See this section of our web-site for the results from our work.  Similar programmes are being run by the Cereals Industry Forum, Dairy UK and by the RMIF.
 
PROBE challenges a small team drawn from within a business to give a score for a series of questions about the business and the way it operates.  These scores are validated and moderated by a trained facilitator and then used to benchmark the business against its peers.  A report is then produced that shows the business'''' strengths and weaknesses.

The Food Chain Centre has applied PROBE to the Fresh Produce sector.  See this section of our web-site for the results from our work.  PROBE is also being applied by the Cereals Industry Forum and by Dairy UK.

Results from our research into two other techniques, Statistical Process Control and Six Sigma, are available below.

information & case studies


Case Studies

.: Technical report on the application of Statistical Process Control and Six Sigma to agriculture

These Techniques are explained with information on how they can be applied within farming.

Business areas: Production Excellence
Sector: Fresh Produce
Dairy
Region: n/a



See also


. : Masterclass Leads to Potato Grader Improvement (Press Release - 18 May 2006)

The performance of Greenvale AP’s potato grader improved by 20% following a Food Chain Centre masterclass delivered by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Greenvale was the first fresh produce company to benefit from the masterclass which identified potential savings worth thousands.


. : Food Chain Centre Awarded Half a Million Pounds to Help Fresh Produce Sector (Press Release - 25 Oct 2004)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has been awarded a major grant by DEFRA, worth almost £500,000, to develop its work in the fresh produce sector.


. : Cereals Industry Forum Awarded £1.4 million to Improve Cereals Chain (Press Release - 29 Sep 2003)

In what is a significant success for the cereals industry, the Cereals Industry Forum has been awarded a major Government grant of £1.4m over the next three years to improve efficiency and competitiveness in the grain chain. The funds will be provided jointly by DTI and Defra.


. : PROBE into British Horticulture Reveals Strengths in Efficiency and Customer Service (Press Release - 04 Aug 2003)

The Food Chain Centre, with funding from the Farmers’ Fund, has compared the UK’s leading suppliers of fresh fruit, salads, potatoes and vegetables against the world’s best and found they shine in efficiency and customer service.


. : Saving Money by better Workplace Organisation - Adrian Scripps (Case Study)

A FCC Masterclass has helped Adrian Scripps Ltd improve their bottom line by £28,000pa by eliminating an operation at the apple packing plant thereby releasing labour and saving from lower inventory management.