Decision Making
CONSTRUCTING A UNIFIED DATABASE for DECISIONMAKING
40% of your data for decision making will come from your vendors.
Vendors provide a wealth of information on the specifications of their
products. Great vendors distinguish themselves in the marketplace by
their complete mastery of the parameters that are important to you,
their client.
- If
the vendor is a manufacturer selling direct, they can offer insight
into their process: usually they tout the unique strengths of their
manufacturing know-how. When pressed, they can be made to divulge the
amount of variation from batch to batch. The honest manufacturer wants
you to understand that natural plant products have an inherent amount
of variation
- If the vendor is a broker or
represents differing product lines, they can provide specification
sheets. The comparisons will be up to you and it's important to
determine an objective process for weighing the costs/benefits of each
material.
40% of your data for decision making will come from in-house process measurements.
- Capture
and keep as much information of your process, as possible. After raw
material selection, this is your only chance for maintaining control
and improving the product you hope to sell. Keeping the data in a
manner that will do some good is as important as collecting it. File
electronically and back it up.
10% of your data for decision making will come from finished in-house testing/tasting.
Conduct consistent evaluation at the point of consumption. This is
where your reputation is wagered. Record evaluations and relate them in
the same electronic database as hold the process and vendor
information. Close the loop.
10% of your data for decision making will come from outsourced testing/tasting.
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