Case Study: Food Processing Company achieves improved pickle quality control and supply flexibility with Northwest Analytics' NWA Quality Analyst

Choosing and Implementing SPC Software in Food Processing

Food Processing Company faced the common food-industry challenge of implementing effective Statistical Process Control (SPC) for its dill pickle packing line: they needed software that could handle process and lab data together, automate routine charting, support industry-specific charts, and integrate with plant data systems. They selected Northwest Analytics and its NWA Quality Analyst product to address these needs.

Northwest Analytics implemented NWA Quality Analyst to collect a single dataset of description, measurement and defect counts, and to generate control charts, histograms, Pareto and p-charts, plus industry-specific CUSUM and M/I charts. Using Northwest Analytics’ tools, the company verified process control, demonstrated both 3A and 3B stocks met weight Cpk requirements, but identified increased “Broken” defects tied to 3B via p-charts and data filtering (including two points above the upper control limit). The insight from Northwest Analytics enabled clear, cost‑impacting choices about sourcing and process changes and gave the team confidence in their quality decisions.