ASTM Committee E18 on Sensory Evaluation of Materials and Products will present a Continuous Product Maintenance Workshop, Oct. 10-11, at Le Centre Sheraton, Montreal. The workshop is the fourth in a series on sensory applications in product development and occurs during ASTM Committee-Week, Oct. 8-11.

The committee will use formulations from their April 2001 workshop to set acceptable criteria and shelf-life parameters during product maintenance.

The pre-market segment will cover:

• Issues to tackle during the scale-up phase;
• Accumulation of “little changes” along the way that can lead to delivering a different product than the one proposed;
• Releasing your “child” to manufacturing; and
• Helping to ensure future “maintenance” of the product.

The in-market segment will cover:

• Developing and maintaining product standards during reformulations that often occur due to cost reductions, process improvements, or alternate suppliers.
• Implementing quality control measurements, and
• Auditing the product on the shelf.

The committee will discuss how implementation of competitive benchmarking will help sensory professionals and marketers assess a product’s marketability in the field, and if it meets its original concept criteria.

To register, contact Joe Hugo, manager, ASTM Technical Committee Operations (phone: 610/832-9740). Registration is preferred by Sept. 1, or can be paid at the door: $250/ members, $350/non-members. Contact Jeanette Ziegler, Ziegler Consulting, Kenosha, Wis. (phone: 262/859-9460). //

Copyright 2002, ASTM