IEH Academy Webinar

Intro to Six Sigma Application for the Food Industry

Six Sigma techniques are very effective for high-volume food and beverage manufacturing. This webinar presents several case studies that illustrate how different types of data analysis can drive process improvement. Utilizing Six Sigma tools allows for better data visualization, leading to enhanced decision-making and improvements in quality, food safety, productivity, and profitability.

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Webinar Recording

Description

Agenda

Six Sigma Overview for Food and Beverage
Case Study: Time-Based Data
Case Study: Comparing Two Processes
Case Study: Measles Chart for Allergen Tracking
Summary

Who Should Attend

Process Improvement and Continuous Improvement Professionals
Operations Personnel
Quality Assurance and Quality Control Teams
Maintenance Specialists
Process Engineers

Webinar Length

1 hour with Q&A to follow.

The webinar will include a 10-minute Q&A session where attendees can ask questions related to managing consumer complaints. This interactive portion is designed to offer personalized guidance and facilitate the sharing of practical insights among participants.

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Meet the Instructor

Ruth Pierson

Ruth Pierson joined IEH as Vice President of Technical Services in 2024. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and an M.S. in Systems Engineering from Southern Methodist University. Her academic achievements complement her extensive practical experience in operations, engineering, food and beverage equipment, quality, sanitation, optimization, and operational excellence, gained through positions at notable food processing companies such as Niagara Bottling and Tetra Pak, as well as other FDA-regulated firms.

Previously, she served as the Senior Manager of Technical Operations at Niagara Bottling, supporting both low and high-acid aseptic beverage plants. Prior to this role, she managed issue resolution at Tetra Pak for dairy, low-acid, high-acid, cheese, and ice cream customers. Ms. Pierson achieved expert-level proficiency in Tetra Pak’s root cause analysis process and shared her knowledge with specialists and field service engineers.

In addition to her academic and professional accomplishments, Ms. Pierson is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt from ASQ and has extensive experience in failure analysis, process improvement, and troubleshooting. She is also a Licensed Professional Engineer and has contributed to academia as an Adjunct Professor in Mechanical and Energy Engineering at the University of North Texas.

Carol Cave

Ms. Carol Cave joined IEH as the Executive Vice President in 2024, bringing with her extensive expertise in regulatory affairs and consumer protection. She holds a B.S. in Consumer Economics from the University of Maryland.

Before joining IEH, Ms. Cave served as the Acting Associate Commissioner (ACRA) for the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) at the Food and Drug Administration. In this role, she oversaw approximately 5000 ORA employees stationed across the U.S. and around the world.

Prior to her role as Acting ACRA, Ms. Cave served as Deputy Associate Commissioner, where she managed inspections, compliance, enforcement, field laboratory operations, import operations, and strategic planning.

Earlier in her career at the FDA, she served as the Assistant Commissioner of Import Operations, where she led the Office of Enforcement and Import Operations, ensuring FDA-regulated imported products comply with U.S. laws. Ms. Cave also led coordination efforts between the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, developing joint regulations, policies, procedures, and operations.

Before her tenure at the FDA, Ms. Cave was the Deputy Director of the Office of Compliance and Field Operations at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In this role, she collaborated with federal government agencies to identify potentially defective consumer products. With nearly 26 years at the CPSC, Ms. Cave held various leadership positions, including Director of State and Local Programs and Assistant Executive Director for the Office of Import Surveillance, ensuring the safety of consumer products nationwide.

Let's get in touch

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