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Food product development
Food Product Development And Culinary Arts
This article provides an in depth look at the food product development industry. The authors of this text aim to build a thorough understanding of the entire process from idea to launch. There is no question that food product development is an important and necessary business activity. However, there is also much debate over the best way to go about it. By providing such an overview, this text hopes to open up debate regarding the best ways to proceed.
There are two types of food product development activities that the food product development consultant identify as important. These categories are process and methodology. Within these categories, there are four main processes that need to be distinguished. These include process innovation, process deployment, process improvement and process optimization.
The process innovation involves the research and analysis required by any food science project. In the food product development company, for example, the process innovation focuses on identifying innovative uses for existing technology in new ways. The second category of this process relates to the process deployment. In this case, the focus is more on the ways to make changes with minimal disruption of production. This is particularly useful to help the food science industry gain a competitive advantage.
The third category, process improvement, refers to the ways to fine tune procedures and core competencies. In the food product development industry this would involve developing a series of tests to identify any flaws in the process that can lead to costly failures and unexpected outcomes. Finally, the last category of this process relates to process optimization. Optimization focuses on finding ways to make improvements in processes without significantly impacting the quality, cost or time.
The focus on core competencies is a necessary part of the food product development. While the Culinary Arts sector is rapidly becoming an important and popular service and product category, the food product development industry must remain a strong and vibrant industry in order to sustain itself. The ability of organizations to continuously improve processes will enable them to sustain competitiveness in the market as demand increases.
Food product development teams will need to be especially careful when selecting students. Freshmen and women with a strong combination of Culinary Arts knowledge and other business skills will be best suited to take on these complex tasks as they advance through their education. Graduates with a strong understanding of food safety will also be well placed in the workplace. Those looking to advance their education in the food product development industry should consider completing a formal culinary arts training program. These programs are available at many community colleges, vocational schools and trade schools.