The Chain Information Model: a systematic approach for food product development

The chain information model has been developed to increase the success rate of new food products. The uniqueness of this approach is that it approaches the problem from a chain perspective and starts with the consumer. The model can be used to analyse the production chain in a systematic way. This results in several scenarios each describing different pathways to produce the intended product. The scenarios also contain the possible consequences for the quality characteristics caused by changes in the production process. Based on these scenarios the chain information model indicates what information is needed by each actor in the production chain for the successful development of the intended product. In its present form the model provides the product development team with a systematic approach for the effective and efficient development of new food products and the improvement of existing products. The model can also be used as a tool for knowledge management and as a communication tool between the different members of the development team.