Module 4 essay question

Consumer Behavior

The product that will be analyzed in this case is represented by loose green tea. The product is sold to customers in clip sealed bags of different weights.

There is little design associated with this product. Basically, the tea leaves are hand-picked and taken through the production process. The quality standards on the product's appearance must be followed.

Procurement document control

In the tea industry, products must follow specific quality guidelines. Each loose green tea supplier must provide documents attesting the quality standards their products reach. Although tea price is settled by the stock exchange, specific price offers between suppliers and buyers in this industry reflect the level of quality of each tea type.

Instructions, procedures and drawings

The quality of green tea can be significantly affected by several activities: tea leaves picking, plucking, withering, rolling, fermentation, firing, sorting and packing (Nathmulls, 2014). The duration of each of these activities and the standard at which they are performed can affect the quality of tea. Each of these activities must be documented with instructions and procedures.

Control of documents

The formal system of documents control should be managed by the Quality Control department that should coordinate all other departments involved in the formal documents system.

Control of purchased items and services

Given the quality standards in the tea industry and the health standards in the food industry, it is important that each buyer in the tea business evaluates the source where the tea is manufactured (UPASI, 2014). Tea products are examined in order to identify potential flaws and to take action before the products enter the market.

Identification and control of items

Once the loose tea exits the fabrication line, each batch is verified by specialists in the Quality Control department. The batches that do not match standards are discarded as they cannot be modified through technological processes.

Inspections

Each six months inspections should be organized within the manufacturing unit. These inspections should be performed by trained and qualified inspectors that would evaluate hygiene elements, manufacturing standards, and employees' security work conditions.

Test control

The characteristics that will be tested are represented by color, size, fermentation level, smell of the manufactured loose tea. The testing method consists in taking tea samples from several batches and comparing them to best practices in the tea production industry.

Handling, storage and shipping

Loose tea requires special storage conditions. Although it does not normally have an expiration date, it can lose its properties. Therefore, it is important that loose tea is kept at low temperature in dark spaces free of humidity. The same requirements are associated to the shipping process.

Control of nonconforming items

The loose tea batches found to not conform to quality standards in tests and controls must be discarded. If the buyer decides that the nonconforming batches are still desirable, a lower price can be negotiated for them. However, the manufacturer must inform the buyer on all nonconforming issues so that the buyer makes an informed decision.

Corrective actions

It is important to identify in advance conditions that might determine reduced quality products and develop measures in order to counteract their effects. The cause of such conditions must also be identified in order to prevent future quality problems to loose tea production.

Records

Buyers must be offered documentary evidence that attests evidence of quality. Loose tea buyers across the world cannot physically verify the quality of the products they want to buy, which makes it necessary for them to benefit from official documents that reflected the purchased tea's quality. However, this does not eliminate potential nonconforming item problems, but it gives the buyer the opportunity to take legal action against the seller or to negotiate a settlement if the case.

An important issue related to this documentation is that it must be legible and identifiable. This means the manufacturer must offer these documents in internationally circulated language so that it is accepted by the buyer. The responsibility of transmitting such documents relies upon the Sales department that maintains the business relationship with the buyer. Given electronic mail, such documents can be easily and rapidly accessed by the buyer once they are sent by the manufacturer.