PET Food Processing - September 2018 - 8

OFF THE LEASH

Learning
curve
A few days spent on the sprawling campus of Texas
A&M University in College Station, Texas, at the Process
Engineering Research & Development Center's (PERDC)
practical short course in extruded pet food and treats gave me
an appreciation for just how challenging it is for pet food processors to consistently produce quality, shelf-stable products
month after month. The course covered extrusion cooking
and all the parameters that can be adjusted to create the desired product result; but the course also covered the vast array
of decisions prior to and post extrusion that affect the quality,
stability and reliability of the finished pet food or treat.
Like others, I tend to focus just on my piece of the puzzle
and the immediate task at hand. In providing a broader view
of how everything upstream from extrusion and downstream
can affect long-term product quality, attendees were reminded by presenter Alaina Mooney, technical analyst, nutrition
manager for Wenger Manufacturing Co., that quality is everyone's responsibility. Mooney said quality is 15% visible and
85% invisible. The visible part of a product-based brand is the
finished, packaged product the consumer purchases, but the
competitive advantage is the unseen value-added processes
inside an organization which ensure reliable outcomes that
meet quality targets.
A principle of quality improvement from W. Edwards
Deming, Ph.D., is called the 85/15 Rule and mirrors what
Mooney shared with the extrusion class - 85% of the responsibility for meeting customer expectations is attributed to the
overall system, process, structure or practices of the organization; 15% can be attributed to an individual's isolated role.
The organization is the greatest variable and any opportunity to better understand each and every part of the process
within an organization is invaluable to understanding how to
ensure quality consistently.
It's easy to stay head down and get
lost in the weeds and forget to look up
to see how each piece of the puzzle fits
together. Taking advantage of learning opportunities available in the pet
food processing industry can help provide a picture of the complete process
and how each step affects the next. A
sweeping view fosters understanding and from understanding
comes better solutions. Plus, for someone who loves learning,
time spent on a college campus again is never a bad idea.
Jennifer Semple | Editor, jsemple@sosland.com

8

PET FOOD PROCESSING | September 2018 | www.petfoodprocessing.net

EDITORIAL
Pet Food Processing Editor
Baking & Snack Editor
MEAT+POULTRY Editor
Contributing Editors:

Jennifer Semple
Joanie Spencer
Joel Crews
Nico Roesler
Charlotte Atchley
Kimberlie Clyma
Donna Berry
Lynn Petrak
Chris Crawford

PUBLISHING STAFF
Publisher
Publisher MEAT+POULTRY
Publisher Baking & Snack
Publisher World Grain
Publisher Food Business News and
Milling & Baking News
Publisher Bake/InStore
Associate Publisher
Associate Publisher
Associate Publisher
Sales Manager World Grain
Sales Associate
Director of Audience Development
Audience Development Manager
Audience Development Specialist
Director of Digital Media
Digital Advertising Manager
Advertising Manager
Advertising Assistant Manager
Advertising Coordinator
Design Services Manager
Design Services Assistant Manager
Production Specialist
Senior Design Consultant
Graphic Designer
Promotions Manager
Promotions Media Designer
Sales Coordinator

Steve Berne
Dave Crost
Paul Lattan
Dan Flavin
Mike Gude
Troy Ashby
David DePaul
Matt O'Shea
Bruce Webster
Adam Ungashick
James Boddicker
Michael Barbee
Kay Hudspeth
Molly Brown
Jon Hall
Carrie Fluegge
Nora Wages
Erica Reyes
Brittany Crisp
Sadowna Conarroe
Ryan Alcantara
Marj Potts
Becky White
Brian Peterman
Jim White
Abby Chronister
Whitney Hartman

CORPORATE
Chairman and CEO
President
Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer
Director of Operations

Charles S. Sosland
L. Joshua Sosland
Staci Greco
Meyer Sosland

Corporate Headquarters
4801 Main St., Suite 650, Kansas City, MO 64112
Phone: (816) 756-1000; Fax: (816) 756-0494
E-mail: PetFoodProcessing@sosland.com
Internet: www.petfoodprocessing.net
http://www.petfoodprocessing.net http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
PET Food Processing - September 2018

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