Global Quality Management Process

Heinz has a Global Quality Strategy that focuses on risk assessment and prevention, sharing of global best practices, consistent product performance and continuous improvement. We established a Global Quality Risk Management Process that is based on both internal and externally recognized quality standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 2200 and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, a food safety risk assessment process focused on controlling biological, chemical and physical hazards within the food chain.

The Global Quality Risk Management Process is designed to continually reduce food safety risks, identify and share best practices and measure all Heinz facilities against a global common standard. It also defines gaps, establishes improvement plans and strives for excellence and long-term targets as part of a continuous improvement process.

The Global Quality Risk Management Process defines operational and system standards that all facilities are expected to achieve. The tool utilizes a scoring system that establishes and weighs more than 40 critical categories of the quality and safety systems and takes into account the effectiveness of that control system. Assessments are completed by third-party auditors and Heinz staff at each factory. The results of the assessment generate a score called the Risk Control Rating, an indication of how effectively each site is managing and controlling its risks.

A site-specific improvement plan is created at each facility based upon its current Risk Control Rating scores and target goals. Progress is tracked monthly to ensure actions will deliver the anticipated final result.

In Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009, all Heinz-owned and operated facilities around the world were assessed against this standard to enable us to measure the improvements in our quality performance.

Some recent examples of improvements of quality performance include:

  • An x-ray machine was installed in our Polish facility to identify the potential presence of foreign material in products
  • An online electronic vision system that can identify incorrect cartons at very high speeds on packaging lines to avoid mislabeling allergen risk was implemented in Massillon, Ohio (see associated video)
  • An electronic vision system was installed in Pocatello, Idaho, which helps to protect against allergen risks
  • Detection equipment that removes empty cups from the production line was installed in Chatsworth, California; Mason, Ohio; and Jacksonville, Florida

We routinely conduct a global risk assessment via interviews and risk assessment sessions with management in appropriate functional areas.

The outcomes of our risk management assessments and improvement efforts are integral to producing safer food products, complying with Heinz specifications, experiencing little or no crisis management and recalls, and ultimately meeting and exceeding customer and consumer expectations every day. Heinz believes these quality and safety processes are effective. We did not encounter any significant product recalls/withdrawals in Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009.