Having shared objectives and key result areas especially regarding quality and volume will help unite both departments and foster collaboration. The business needs the "volume" to thrive but the only recognised volume should be "quality volume". Quality volume is a win-win for both departments.

There should never be a conflict between production and quality KPIs and targets. Fundamentally the most efficient production processes are based upon right first time quality Principles- so the need for remaking and quarantining production is minimised to an absolute level To do this ensure that both production and quality based team members have at least one or two shared objectives and principles on KPIs and then ensure they share those between each other Also ensure you have done an analysis of your manufacturing processes to identify key points for a quality control perspective and ensure that the parameters around that are agreed and signed up to the production team as well as the quality team

Yeah, To align production and quality assurance teams in food manufacturing, focus on cross-functional training to build mutual understanding, collaborative problem-solving through regular meetings, and data-driven decision-making to align priorities. Develop a shared vision emphasizing mutual goals, promote continuous improvement, and empower team leaders to foster teamwork and accountability.

At the end of the day the user of the product that is manufactured needs to be satisfied. Product needs to meet the expectations of the customer which should be aligned with product/manufacturing specifications/expectations. I would frame it from the perspective if we do not meet our Quality requirements we are a risk of not satisfying our customers which can lead to product rejection or reduction of sales. This in turn would directly correlate to plant production metrics.

As a canned food export expert, I face many challenges in aligning the goals of production and quality assurance teams. I believe the best approach is to establish clear and effective KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) that are mutually agreed upon by both teams. By involving them in the process and breaking down the KPIs into achievable steps, we can create transparent and actionable reports that help visualize progress and ensure alignment.

To align production and quality teams in food manufacturing: Foster communication - Establish meetings for teams to share challenges and build mutual understanding. Set shared KPIs - Collaboratively define metrics balancing productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction. Incentivize collaboration - Implement rewards encouraging effective teamwork. Enable cross-training - Help members understand each other's roles, promoting empathy. Streamline processes - Review procedures to eliminate friction between teams. The goal is a culture of partnership and improvement, where teams align to efficiently deliver quality products. Open communication, shared objectives, and collaboration are key.

Very good pointers… I cannot stress communication as a priority enough and ensuring that all the role players understand what need to be achieved.

As Quality Assurance analysts, our mission is to guarantee that all of the products made by the Manufacturing has passed the specifications that are not only compliant to our standards but also to regulatory and statutory laws. To align our goals, we must be proactive also in safeguarding everything starting from the raw materials acceptance, conformity to processes through in process checks and lastly, checking the quality of finished products. With that in mind, our goals with the manufacturing are aligned. Moreover, production of non conforming products are significantly reduced.

Quality trumps production at all costs. Customers buy to a quality , not to a volume - unless you're supplying PPE during covid and you have friends in high places.