IMPQI250 – Apply the flow process analysis improvement technique in food operations

Overview 

This standard is about the skills and knowledge needed for you to apply flow process analysis as part of your organisation's drive to increase the effectiveness and productivity of food operations. This is important in the achievement of excellence and the success of manufacture, processing and supply across the food supply chain.

You will need to apply and understand the methodology and procedures of flow process analysis. You will need to carry out analysis and present findings of analysis to relevant people within the organisation, including management colleagues. You will need to know how to comply with your company policy for improvement, take responsibility for your actions, and refer any issues outside of the limit of your authority to others.

This standard is for you if you work in food or drink operations including, manufacturing, processing, packing or supply chain activities. You may have responsibilities for aspects of organisational improvement in a team leadership or management role.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

Prepare for analysis

  1. confirm and agree the defined scope of analysis with the relevant personnel
  2. check and confirm that flow process analysis is the most appropriate improvement technique to support the analysis required with the relevant personnel
  3. obtain information, documentation and resources necessary to support the technique in accordance with procedures
  4. communicate the purpose of the analysis to the relevant personnel

Carry out analysis to identity flow process improvement opportunities

  1. use approved methodology to apply the technique and collect performance data on flow process in accordance with the improvement plan
  2. analyse and evaluate flow process performance in accordance with the improvement plan

Report improvement opportunities

  1. present findings of the flow process analysis to the relevant personnel
  2. make recommendations about improvement opportunities and targets resulting from the analysis findings to the relevant personnel

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand

  1. the organisation's improvement vision, strategy, objectives and the reasons for implementation of improvement programmes
  2. how the health, safety and hygiene requirements of a work area can influence the process of analysis
  3. the food or drink operational process activity that is being analysed
  4. how a process in its elements/activities of work are described
  5. the control of waste within a food processing environment
  6. the symbols and abbreviations used for flow process analysis
  7. how a process or deployment flowchart is mapped using the recognised symbols
  8. what are classed as value-added and non-value added activities within the process
  9. the elements/activities in the process that are value added or non-value added
  10. how to identify and make recommendations about potential opportunities for improvements within the food processing activity
  11. the use of data to eliminate activities that do not add value to the process action
  12. planning to simplify the value added activities and eliminate the non-value added activities
  13. how action plans are constructed including the use of the payback matrix
  14. levels of authority linked to problem resolution
  15. the use of statistical measurement and meanings, abbreviations and symbols in the collection of performance data
  16. how to use graphical data representation in data analysis
  17. how to interpret and evaluate data
  18. how to present analysis findings
  19. how to make recommendations about improvement opportunities and targets

Keywords: Food operations; Manufacturing; Excellence; Improvement; Organisational development; Change; Management; Flow process; Analysis