Quality control in a canola crushing plant

A strong emphasis on quality control provides the technical base on which the reputation for the oil and meal products from a crushing plant is established. Most crushing plants in Western Canada now process only canola, the new quality oilseed developed from the former rapeseed. Quality control procedures employed by these plants to contract, grade, purchase and segregate canola seed for processing are described. Quality products are manufactured to meet national standard specifications of quality with the aid of a regular schedule of sampling and laboratory analysis, combined with frequent communication between quality control personnel and plant operators. Operating procedures are established to minimize variability in the quality of oil and meal products resulting from the natural variation in the characteristics of the seed to be processed. Instrumental methods of analysis are being used increasingly to facilitate the analysis of process materials.