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Pareto Assessment of Quality Control in Poultry Processing Plants

Department of Poultry Science, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; Phone: (814) 863-0655; FAX: (814) 865-5691

Correspondence: W. B. Roush

The problems associated with carcass quality of broilers after processing and chilling was analyzed by Pareto analysis. Pareto analysis is a tool which can help identify problems by visually arranging defect in order of importance. Data obtained from a commercial poultry processing plant described 19 defects in carcass quality. The original data were divided into 15 lots, over 18 h of processing, with an average of 6,200 chickens per lot (range 5,600 to 8,200). The number of defects noted for a sample of 50 birds from each lot was averaged to use in Pareto analysis. A Pareto diagram was then plotted using a computer spreadsheet (Quatro Pro®). Three defect categories accounted for fifty percent of the total defects: breast trims (due to tears, blisters, etc. ), wing and drum bruises. A Pareto analysis based on monetary loss attributed to the selected defects altered the order of priority. The highest value defects on a monetary basis were breast trims, breast bruises, and wing bruises. After corrective measures are made, an update Pareto diagram can be used to document improvements.

Key Words: Broilers • carcass quality • Pareto diagrams • processing defects • spreadsheet