Development of a Quality-Assurance System for a Wine Producer in Greece

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