quality – OM in the News

Direct-to-Consumer Caskets Disrupt Traditional Business Model

The old saying “there’s nothing certain in life except death and taxes” may still be true, but more options now exist regarding the cost of burying a loved one.

Traditionally in the United States, a family purchases a casket upon the death of their loved one, as part of the arrangements made with a funeral home. Funeral homes provide both tangible products (such as a casket) and intangible services (such as preparing the body for viewing and burial). The combined total […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2023-11-12T10:46:29+00:00November 12, 2023|Tags: direct-to-consumer, inventory, inventory management, online shopping, process selection, quality, supply chain disruption, total cost of ownership|

House of Prime Rib: Quality, Not Variety

Most restaurants offer a variety of entrees. But the House of Prime Rib gives you only one choice—prime rib.

It has been open since 1949, serving only the one entrée. The House of Prime Rib meticulously selects only the best beef ribs, and prepares them to perfection using a 28-day dry age. The ribs are cooked in salt to ensure that all of the juices and favors are sealed in.

This dedication to producing the finest prime rib has led to success […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2023-10-18T03:54:33+00:00October 18, 2023|Tags: process design, process layout, product design, quality, standardization|

Tabasco: Maintaining Traditional Processes

McIlhenny’s Tabasco sauce still uses many of the production processes developed over 150 years ago.

The process starts with hand-picking peppers. Next, the peppers are sent for grinding and mixed with salt within one hour of being picked, then placed in oak whiskey barrels, covered with salt, and left to age for three years.

From the barrel, the mash is mixed with vinegar and then churned for three to four weeks. This is followed by a two-stage milling process that removes the […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2023-10-11T10:16:48+00:00October 11, 2023|Tags: assembly line, inspection, inventory management, perishable inventory management, process, quality, quality control|

Costs of Quality: Tulare Lake Flooding

Much of California’s most productive farmland has yet to emerge from flooding caused by this winter’s torrential rain and snow storms.

Anticipated snow melt from a snowpack 300% of average threatens to put valley areas under even more water as it begins to flow down from the mountains. The melt exceeds the capacity of lakes, dams, and rivers.

Flooding in the Tulare Lake and Monterey areas in March 2023 ruined many crops. Consumers across the country will feel the impact of higher […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2023-04-28T22:30:51+00:00April 28, 2023|Tags: capacity planning, cost of quality, food supply chain, forecasting, inventory management, quality, supply chain|