Over the last two decades, the increased interest in the Six Sigma methodology has stimulated the use of statistical methods and other quantitative approaches not only to improve product quality, services, and processes, but also for organizational performance and decision making process. This paper examines the application of the statistical approach in the context of quality management in medium and large food industries from São Paulo. The purpose of this paper are: to identify the statistical tools and techniques that have been more widely utilized in quality management in the food industry; to evaluate the relationship between the use of these statistical tools and the implementation of quality and food safety programs, such as the Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP); and to evaluate the relevance degree of the benefits of the statistical thinking application. The findings of an exploratory-descriptive study show that the statistical approach has been more valued and used by the food industry, like in other economic sectors, due to its significant benefits. There are evidences that the successful implementation of food safety programs is of paramount importance to the effective use of statistical and other quantitative approaches in the food industry.
Statistical approach; Food industry; Quality management; Six Sigma
