Many sensory professionals and sensory/consumer researchers have attended IRIS’ public short courses and workshops that focus in and cover selected sensory science/sensory evaluation and consumer research tropics.

However, sensory/consumer insights groups frequently have specific needs that are not addressed by public courses.

In-house and custom- tailored workshops and short courses designed and taught by IRIS: International Resources for Insights and Solutions, LLC (IRIS) can address any specific area/topic or a combination of topics in sensory evaluation and consumer research including:

►  IRIS’ WORKSHOPS (or one-on-one training) on  PRODUCTS’ SENSORY DIMENSIONS

•  Production and acquisition of samples for sensory and consumer tests
•   Product preparation and screening issues. Design plans
•   Product bench screening
•   Product selection for sensory and consumer tests and research
•   Product sensory lexicons
•   Initiatives with new products: sensory lexicons, sample presentation, descriptive training, testing strategies (sensory and consumer tests)
•   Other relevant topics on your products’ sensory properties

►  IRIS’  WORKSHOPS (or one-on-one training) on   RESEARCH DESIGN AND EXECUTION –  SENSORY EVALUATION  TESTS/RESEARCH AND CONSUMER  RESEARCH TESTS

• Assessment of sensory or consumer research project. Project and test objectives
• Products and products’ variables for sensory and consumer tests e.g., Type and amounts, characterization, product presentation designs, product use, etc.
• Test design – Sensory evaluation and Consumer Research-  e.g., participants (consumers or assessors), test selection and design, test variables, etc.
• Test execution. Variety of topics applicable to sensory analytical tests (i.e., discrimination and descriptive), and consumer research tests.  Product integrity, supervision, test controls.
• Data Analysis and interpretation of sensory and consumer data ( Validation, Relationship to test design, Data analyses and graphical displays, Interpretation , Data relationships)
• Other relevant topics  in sensory evaluation tests/ research and consumer  research tests

► IRIS’ WORKSHOPS (or one-on-one training) on  DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS

IRIS designs these workshops based on the program or methodology to be     implemented, or is of interest.    Some examples of workshops focused on program implementation designed by    IRIS  include

• Design and Implementation of Discrimination Program/Panels
  • Which method is the best for you?
  • How to select, orient/train and maintain the panel
  • Data issues: analysis, interpretation and applications
  • Other relevant topics of interest to the company in this area
    
• Design and Implementation of Sensory Descriptive Program/Panels
  • Which descriptive method is the best for you?  Pros and  Cons of methods
  • How to select, orient/train and maintain a descriptive panel
  • Determining the scope and type of the desired descriptive training program
  • Descriptive panel training approaches Descriptive panel issues; e.g., merging panels, panel motivation, addressing     attrition, etc. Sensory/descriptive qualitative references
  • Sensory and descriptive lexicons/ attributes, and ballot issues
  • Descriptive analysis scaling options, quantitative references and intensity anchors
  • Data issues: analysis, interpretation and applications of sensory  descriptive data
  • Advanced topics – Descriptive Analysis
  • Other relevant topics of interest to the company in this area
    
•  Design and Implementation of an A⁵daptive Profile® Descriptive Program/Panel
  • The principles of the A⁵daptive Profile® Descriptive Method
  • How to select, orient/train and maintain the descriptive panel
  • The sensory and descriptive lexicons/ attributes and ballot  used in this method
  • The descriptive analysis scaling approaches and the quantitative references/ intensity anchors used by the A⁵daptive Profile^TMDescriptive Method
  • Analysis, interpretation and applications of the sensory descriptive data obtained by this method
• Design and Implementation of Quality Control- Quality Assurance/ Sensory programs (QC/Sensory programs), and Sensory Quality programs
  •  Assessment of needs
  • Manufacturing issues and partnering with QC, QA and manufacturing    professionals
  • Quality Control Sensory method’s selection Product variability and variability studies
  • Consumer based quality specifications
  • How to select, orient/train and maintain a Quality Control or Quality Assurance/sensory (QC/QA Sensory) panel
  • Quality Control/sensory panel training QC/Sensory data issues: analysis, interpretation and applications
  • Sensory Quality and programs
  • Dimensions of Sensory Quality
  • Other relevant topics of interest to the company in this area
    
• Design and management of consumer panels
  • Assessment of needs
  • Types of consumer panels
  • Recruitment and selection of consumer panels
  • Management /operation and maintenance of consumer panels
  • Information generated by these panels
  • Data analysis, interpretation and use of consumer panel data
  • Caveats
    
•  Design and Implementation of other sensory and consumer  programs of interest to a Sensory and Consumer Insights Group

► IRIS’  WORKSHOPS (or one-on-one training) on   SENSORY PROPERTIES

Workshops addressing sensory lexicons/attributes and screening of products. These workshops can focus on:

– Flavor
– Texture
– Fragrance or Odor/Aroma
– Appearance
– Skinfeel
– Handfeel
 – Appearance and physical properties of non-food products

• Main characteristics of sensory lexicons
  • Desirable/positive  lexicons
  • Flawed lexicons and issues
• Generation of sensory lexicons
• Structure of lexicon components in ballots
• Assessment of current or company’s sensory lexicons
• Improvement of sensory lexicons
• Demonstrations and exercises
• Other topics related to sensory lexicons, attributes and ballots

► OTHER WORKSHOPS (or one-on-one training) AND OTHER TOPICS

IRIS: International Resources for Insights and Solutions, LLC (IRIS) designs workshops and short courses that meet the company’s needs.  These workshops are conducted on-site. The workshops and short courses can include any topic of interest in the area of sensory evaluation and consumer research/testing.  Additional examples of workshops besides the ones listed above include:

– Cross cultural consumer research
– Data analysis and Interpretation of sensory and consumer research data
– Drivers of liking and emotion
– International sensory evaluation and consumer research
– Consumer qualitative research approaches
– Novel/creative use of sensory, descriptive and consumer panels
– Other workshops of interest to client