6.4.2.3. Product Improvement. Perhaps, the QDA will have its greatest value in product improvement studies. Through such an approach, the effect of ingredient change can be measured and the attribute affected, identified. The effect of process change in an effort to promote product quality or reduce production costs can be tested through the QDA. It can also be an efficient tool for making a diagnosis of existing product quality.
Though considered as an improvement of the scaling and profiling techniques, this approach has its own shortcomings. Like the flavor profile method, it requires much time and effort on the part of the panelists, especially during the training sessions. Maintenance of panel interest is also a major problem which requires constant attention. When tests are completed, analysis of results can become very cumbersome and complicated. This is usually so if the terminology is broad and not fully defined. Unless panelists are very well-trained, large variations in individual profiles will affect the total picture. This may also result in significant differences of results from one evaluation session to the next, therefore, reducing precision of the tests.