Reducing human error in the quality control checking of fresh produce labels

Human error in the quality control checking of fresh produce labels results in financial loss, reputational damage, and a significant carbon footprint. This chapter reviews a research project aimed at understanding the reasons for such human error. In the course of the project, observations were taken in a packaging facility, historical error records were studied, key operatives were interviewed, and laboratory-based work was conducted. The in-situ observations highlighted the dynamic environment in which label-checking took place. The interviews revealed that no explicit training was given in label-checking. Respondents also identified a range of cognitive and situational factors likely to contribute to increased human error. Laboratory-based work, using an eye tracker to record eye movements during simulated label-checking tasks, showed that varying strategies were adopted by different quality control professionals. A systematic approach, in which one bit of information was checked at a time, was associated with more accurate performance. Several cognitive abilities were found to predict accurate label-checking performance in both quality control professionals and university students. Implications for personnel selection, training, human performance, and task design are identified. The understanding of human quality control checking gained from this project can be used to reduce human error and, thus, waste across different manufacturing domains.