Scale up
At this phase, sensory analysis consists of tests that compare the production samples with the optimized product. Depending on the resources available, either consumer panels or descriptive panels can qualify the production samples.
Sensory specifications are also determined before the product is taken into full production. This is a time consuming-process, similar to establishment of analytical specifications. The first step consists of screening of samples that represent reasonable extremes in the manufacturing process and also represent different raw material samples.
Descriptive analysis is then used to characterize the products in quantitative terms. Consumer data are used to determine which attributes are critical and to set acceptable limits around the optimum target.