DEVELOPMENT OF A QUALITY-ASSURANCE SYSTEM FOR A WINE PRODUCER IN GREECE

All industries realize the need for careful and systematic quality man agement, even those that traditionally considered their work partly an art, as did the wine-making industry. In addition, increased internat ional competition and standardization requirements, natural consequenc es of the European Common Market, have sent a clear message to compani es throughout Europe that quality is not just a competitive priority b ut a prerequisite for survival. We developed and implemented a quality -assurance system for J. Boutaris and Son, a major wine producer in Gr eece, as part of the company's plan to maintain and enhance its strong position in the international marketplace. We employed techniques ran ging from simple graphical tools to state-of-the-art statistical proce dures, putting emphasis on training and the human factor.