Análise de causa raiz na prevenção de não conformidades na indústria de alimentos: um estudo de caso

Abstract

Quality and food safety management is a strategic pillar for the food industry, particularly in addressing non-conformities that may compromise product integrity, consumer health, and, consequently, the company’s reputation. Among the various tools used for quality management, the Cause Analysis Report (RAC) stands out for its focus on identifying root causes, resolving, and preventing non-conformities. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the RAC tool in handling non-conformities arising from market complaints in a food company located in an industrial hub in Ceará, Brazil. The methodology involved the analysis of fifty-six RACs recorded between 2021 and 2024, stratified by product type, defect mode (classified according to the 6Ms), and effectiveness of corrective actions. The chi-square test of independence was also applied to assess whether there is a statistical association between the identified defect mode and the effectiveness of the corrective actions. The results indicated no significant correlation between these variables, suggesting that corrective actions are being tailored to the specific type of failure identified. It is concluded that the analysis of RAC data provided valuable insights for ensuring quality and food safety management. Therefore, it is recommended that this type of analysis be extended to RACs from other sources, thereby broadening the knowledge base and strengthening a culture of data-driven decision-making.