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INTERCOMPARISON CIRCUIT FOR LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS (C.I.P.E.A.)

C.I.P.E.A. (from Spanish 'Comité Inter Profesional de Estudios Analíticos', Interprofessional Committee for Analytic Studies) organizes Laboratory Intercomparison circuits for the Wheat-Flour-Bread Industry, aimed at monitoring results generated by laboratories participating from the same Flour sample, analyzed with the equipment and tools operated by the technician team working at each laboratory, thus generating a Continuous Improvement Circuit for participants.

An additional and natural result is that many of the CIPEA participants have started to participate in this circuit as a tool to compare commercial results. In this way, this has become a system to solve conflicts that were generated by the asymmetrical information in the market, thus encouraging the best commercial practices.

Parameters to be assessed:

Atlantic CIPEA

Pacific CIPEA

Schedule of Current Circuits:

Atlantic CIPEA

Pacific CIPEA

Logistics

The Granotec Group is in charge of:

• Assessing and homogenizing Wheat Flour Sample.
• Preparing and sending the Sample in sufficient quantity to perform trials in duplication.
• Attaching the Instructions to handle the sample and carry out the trials.
• Sending the pre-printed Form with letterhead where the laboratory must report the duplicates.

Special Participation:

In parallel to the samples being sent to participants, an identical sample is sent to the laboratories of the 2 companies that manufacture the equipment taking part in the circuit:

• Chopin Technolametersogies (France) for alveographic results (Alveograph)
• Perten Instruments (Suecia) para los resultados del gluten (Glutomatic) y Falling Number (Falling Number).

Results

Results are collected by IR Adviser, company that is independent from this operation, specialized in generation of market information services.

Once laboratories perform the analyses established by the Circuit in their own equipment, they shall send the Result Form filled in and the alveographic curve graphs by fax to IR Adviser, observing the due date for result reception.

In order to ensure confidentiality of information, each laboratory is identified in the report and histograms with a secret publication code that is temporary and assigned by IR Adviser.

Final data is shown in a Result Report sent to each one of the laboratories, including the following documents:

• Individualized letter with the Secret Publication Code of the Laboratory
• Result Report
• CIPEA Ranking (Circuits Every Four Months)
• Individual Result Follow-up (Standard Control Process)
• Certificate of Results within the Circuit tolerances.