Released on: February 6, 2008, 12:20 pm

Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: SPC tools prevent Over-Packing, Under-Filling and help
Quality Managers

Press Release Body: In the current issue of IFSQN (International Food Safety Quality
Network), manufacturing journalist Thomas R. Cutler, profiled the importance of
statistical process control. Cutler suggested, "Over-packing is just giving away
product; conversely if packages are under-filled the fines to regulators and damage
to a company's reputation are even more costly."

According to Evan J. Miller, President and CEO of Hertzler Systems, "Net Contents
programs must meet the requirements in governmental regulations for compliance to
net content declarations on packaged goods. The NIST 133 standard, for example, does
not specify limits for overfilling, which puts food manufacturing Quality Control
managers in a difficult spot. Fill weights must be above the Maximum Allowable
Variance (MAV), while simultaneously needing the average fill to be over, but as
close as possible to the label declaration."

Automated tools make it easy to discover which fill heads, material suppliers,
operators, product lines, and other variables have the greatest impact on process
variation - individually or in combination. Armed with this information, the best
decisions can be made regarding process improvements that reduce process variation
and shift average fill weights closer to the declared label weights.

Lot Genealogy (Farm to Fork)

Lots of raw material significantly impact process variability; if there is a recall
all products made with a particular lot of raw material must be identifiable. It is
critical that food quality professionals can identify which customers received a
production lot being recalled. Miller suggests, "Lot genealogy makes it easy to
search for a specific raw material lot number and identify all the products made
with this lot of material. Automated variation analysis can quickly compare the
impact of different material lots on process variability, which can then be traced
back to various raw material suppliers, or forward to various customers.

Hertzler Systems (www.hertzler.com) provides seamless, accurate data acquisition
solutions that drive business transformation. The company provides the leading
real-time data acquisition and analytics software, the GainSeeker Suite. This
powerful and flexible system is best used by lean and progressive companies.
Gainseeker Suite allows companies to connect with devices and other information
systems, collecting data and alarming key personnel when problems arise; this
technology allows organizations to analyze data for root cause problems, converting
data into knowledge.



Hertzler Systems has been a leader in Statistical Process Control and Six Sigma for
over twenty years, and includes a diverse customer base in service, transactional
and manufacturing environments; clients include BAE Systems, Crown Audio, IDEX
Corporation, McCormick & Company, Inc., Hormel Foods Corporation, Titleist &
Footjoy, and TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Worldwide. The company\'s software and services
enable clients to collect and analyze data; building a robust data infrastructure
for making data-driven decisions. These capabilities help clients to reduce costs,
cycle time and errors, and increase profitability.


Hertzler Systems Inc.
www.hertzler.com
Adrienne DePew
Communications Manager
info@hertzler.com
800.958.2709


Web Site: http://www.hertzler.com

Contact Details: Hertzler Systems
2312 Eisenhower Dr. N.
Goshen, IN 46526
800-958-2709