Quality Testing Automation Checklist
How automated and rapid is your testing process? Review the checklist below and tally how many statements apply to see if your operation’s processes make you a good fit for automation through managed NIR.
Sample Collection & Testing
- Samples are collected manually during production shifts
- Samples are sent to an in-house or third-party lab
- Results take hours (or days) to receive
- Samples are tested in real time, on-site
- No operator required—analysis runs automatically on the line
- System prompts operators when adjustments are needed
Decision-Making & Process Adjustments
- Operators make manual decisions based on visual cues or experience
- Adjustments are delayed because test results aren’t immediate
- Operators are frequently waiting on lab data before moving forward
- Automated system alerts when parameters (protein, fat, moisture, etc.) are out of spec
- System provides clear go/no-go feedback for process changes
Hold & Release Management
- Finished product is frequently placed on hold until lab results come back
- Decisions on held product take longer than one shift
- Product remains on hold >2 hours while waiting on results
- Real-time data is used to release or rework product immediately
- You can determine within minutes whether to keep, reprocess, or discard
Calibration & Instrument Management
- You maintain calibrations internally (or not at all)
- Instruments drift over time and results aren’t always trusted
- Calibrations, maintenance, and performance monitoring are managed for you
Reporting, Compliance, & Traceability
- Audit trails are hard to track or incomplete
- Data isn’t 1:1 linked to batches, lots, or shift production
- Automated data records every sample with user, lot, and timestamp
- You can export test results instantly for audits or customer requests
Team Burden & Resource Use
- Staff spend valuable time preparing samples, shipping, or following up with labs
- Quality teams are stretched thin managing instrumentation and methods
- Lab staff is overwhelmed by repetitive tests that are often within spec
- Plant operators receive clear, real-time answers—without calling QA
- Lab and QA teams now focus on improvements and root-cause analysis
Scoring Guide
Tally up the number of statements above that are true for your business to determine your score.
0–5 checked (automation-heavy): Your process is optimized—where could you scale or expand?
6–10 checked: You’re halfway there; automation could eliminate delays and guesswork
11–15 checked: You’re relying heavily on manual work or delayed testing—you're a perfect fit for managed NIR
16+ checked: Your system is reactive, costly, and stressful—time to modernize
Next Steps
Ready to get started? We can help.
