Application of failure mode and effect analysis and cause and effect analysis on processing of ready to eat vegetables - part II

Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) model has been applied for the risk assessment of ready to eat vegetables manufacturing. A tentative approach of FMEA application to the ready to eat vegetables industry was attempted in conjunction with cause and effect diagrams. critical control points have been identified and implemented in the cause and effect diagram (also known as Ishikawa, tree diagram and fishbone diagram). The main emphasis was put on the quantification of risk assessment by determining the risk priority number (RPN) per identified processing hazard. Receiving, storage and distribution, packaging and cooling were the processes identified as the ones with the highest RPN (225, 225, 180 and 144 respectively) and corrective actions were undertaken. Following the application of corrective actions, a second calculation of RPN values was carried out leading to considerably lower values (below the upper acceptable limit of 130). It is noteworthy that the application of Ishikawa (cause and effect or tree diagram) led to converging results thus corroborating the validity of conclusions derived from risk assessment and FMEA. Therefore, the incorporation of FMEA and cause and effect analysis within the ISO22000 system of a ready to eat vegetables processing industry is considered imperative.