Jump to content

  • Quick Navigation
Photo

Tesco TFMS / PIU Audits

Share this

  • You cannot start a new topic
  • Please log in to reply
41 replies to this topic

sskubisnac

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 35 posts
  • 4 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:UK

Posted 11 August 2009 - 11:43 AM

Can anyone tell me what the TFMS & PIU acronyms mean?



TFMS = Tesco Food Manufacturing Standard (i.e. standards which must be complied with)

PIU = Product Integrity Unit (the department within Tesco which "police's" the Company brand. Their main remit is the protection of the brand on the basis of product safety and legality. )

The mainstay behind the origination of the standard is to protect the Tesco brand from any threat from the media etc.
This is the main reason the audit is unannounced, so the auditor can see the normal method of production within the facility - as opposed to the possibly 'staged' scene which most BRC auditors are faced with as everyone knows exactly when they are coming!

Ss


sskubisnac

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 35 posts
  • 4 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:UK

Posted 11 August 2009 - 12:06 PM

Ss

Well done - getting blues is quite an achievement.

I've got an audit for Tesco coming up soon - never had one before - so if you want to give me any advice I would be most grateful. They do say "every little helps"!

Paul



Hi Paul,

My approach was quite simple, if the resultant work wasnt!. I sat down with the standard and grouped all the 35 sections of the standard into a more managable 20 (ie sections 5, 6, 7, 8 all came under the heading "Site Environmental Standards"). This made the construction of the procedures, policies and related records much easier to work with.
It was then literaly a matter of starting to write my Quality manual and associated docs from start to finish, ensuring that every single point within the standard that applied was covered, documented etc.
While develpoing this side it is essential to get your Ops guys on board so they can maintain constant 'audit alertness' in case the auditor arrives. The benefit to this approach is that I have found that the staff now are so used to being in 'audit / visit' mode, it has become their normal way of working.
Ensure all essential points are communicated to staff. My standard Hygiene / Jewellery policy now also includes the following sections:~
Hand Washing / sanitising
Coughing / Sneezing / Spitting
Food & Drink
Glove Policy
Personal Medicine policy
Fingernails / eyelashes / makeup
Perfume & Aftershave
Personal Items (essential to include mobile phones as they have integral cameras - a major point of sensitivity with Tesco)
Jewellery
Personal Hygiene
Smoking
Protective Clothing
Notification of Illness
Return to Work
Cuts & Grazes
Clean as you Go policy
Waste Management
Glasses and Contact lenses
Packaging Handling (ie keep covered, not on floor etc)

I know this seams a lot but it is all adequately covered on two sides of A4

In addition get a sign off that the staff have received Company Statement / Quality Policy, Glass Breakage Procedures, Allergen Policy.

It's no point in having a big manual full of do's and don'ts if know one knows about them!

My copy of the TFMS Standard is barely readible because of tghe ticks showing which parts have been covered off. In my view it's the only way to ensure you've covered everything.

p.s. Don't forget your Bodily Fluids Spillage Procedure (and Spillage Kit) or your Blocked Drain Procedure!!! They are the auditors favourite curve balls.
Also, if you do not check the auditors identity / credentials against the photolist of auditors supplied by Tesco. Failure to do this is an automatic major non-con. (as is failure to any licences for staff agencies)

hope this helps

toodle pip

Ss


Thanked by 1 Member:

Caddyshack

    Grade - MIFSQN

  • IFSQN Member
  • 51 posts
  • 4 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

Posted 11 August 2009 - 12:45 PM

My Auditor was Gamma Kahn, very thorough challenged everything we said or offered.

Good luck my friends



Charles.C

    Grade - FIFSQN

  • IFSQN Moderator
  • 20,542 posts
  • 5665 thanks
1,545
Excellent

  • Earth
    Earth
  • Gender:Male
  • Interests:SF
    TV
    Movies

Posted 12 August 2009 - 08:00 AM

Dear sskubisnac

Thks for yr interesting post and a warm welcome to the forum. :welcome:

I presume you do not require BRC since I wud hv thought the majority of yr list well covered by that already and wud be reasonably thoroughly injected into the relevant QA and production personnel. Not denying the advantages of a preliminary tune-up but the basics should be omni-present, after all, a large % of yr list is GMP.

Thank BRC and Anti-Sods Law, I hv never needed to experience the PIU (surely borrowed from “1984”). Absolutely no offence intended (whatever works for you :smile: ) but my first reaction to yr Tesco enforced manouevrings was “unbelievable”, and the second was to offer my comisserations at what you hv to go through. I sincerly hope yr subsequent business from Tesco makes it all worth it.

On the other hand, I can remember an official body who once similarly tried to introduce spot inspections on a national basis. Two particular occurrences scuppered the scheme (1) the wave of hatred which met the inspectors' appearance onto the production floor had to be seen to be believed and almost knocked them over, (2) within a short time, a spy (QA relative) was infiltrated into the local inspection scheduling section, subsequently the next PIU found that the relevant QA manager and certain key personnel were attending a seminar and the FST were refused permission to enter the premises on security grounds. A few more similar occurrences and the idea was quietly re-evaluated. No doubt countermeasures could hv been devised but the situation is ultimately a bit like the spam story (but in a good way :biggrin: ).

Rgds / Charles.C


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


sskubisnac

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 35 posts
  • 4 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:UK

Posted 12 August 2009 - 12:04 PM

Charles,

Hi buddy, unfortunately I also have to undergo BRC, Organic audits et al. How did my life come to this ..... ? I wanted to be a marine biologist for Gods sake!!

Ss
:lol:



pawilliams1

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 43 posts
  • 3 thanks
1
Neutral

  • Wales
    Wales
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Bangor, Gwynedd
  • Interests:Food Safety, Quality Management Systems, HACCP

Posted 19 August 2009 - 07:26 AM

Thanks to everyone who has given me advice on here - it has all been inwardly digested.

My audit is a week today and I think I have everything in place for it - even my mass balance exercises have worked without a hitch!! So I'm now quite worried about the fact that I don't seem to have anything to worry about!

Should I have a sickie on Wednesday next week and leave it to all our Directors and our consultant? I have a feeling that I should but I know that I won't.

Oh well, I will post on here how it goes!!



sskubisnac

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 35 posts
  • 4 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:UK

Posted 19 August 2009 - 01:54 PM

Thanks to everyone who has given me advice on here - it has all been inwardly digested.

My audit is a week today and I think I have everything in place for it - even my mass balance exercises have worked without a hitch!! So I'm now quite worried about the fact that I don't seem to have anything to worry about!

Should I have a sickie on Wednesday next week and leave it to all our Directors and our consultant? I have a feeling that I should but I know that I won't.

Oh well, I will post on here how it goes!!


Good luck buddy!


Minnie

    Grade - Active

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 24 posts
  • 29 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:UK

Posted 20 August 2009 - 11:58 AM

Thanks to everyone who has given me advice on here - it has all been inwardly digested.

My audit is a week today and I think I have everything in place for it - even my mass balance exercises have worked without a hitch!! So I'm now quite worried about the fact that I don't seem to have anything to worry about!

Should I have a sickie on Wednesday next week and leave it to all our Directors and our consultant? I have a feeling that I should but I know that I won't.

Oh well, I will post on here how it goes!!


Good luck, hope it's not too stressful for you!

Minnie


Simon

    IFSQN...it's My Life

  • IFSQN Admin
  • 12,835 posts
  • 1363 thanks
881
Excellent

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Manchester
  • Interests:Married to Michelle, Father of three boys (Oliver, Jacob and Louis). I enjoy cycling, walking and travelling, watching sport, especially football and Manchester United. Oh and I love food and beer and wine.

Posted 23 August 2009 - 07:05 PM

My audit is a week today and I think I have everything in place for it - even my mass balance exercises have worked without a hitch!! So I'm now quite worried about the fact that I don't seem to have anything to worry about!

Should I have a sickie on Wednesday next week and leave it to all our Directors and our consultant? I have a feeling that I should but I know that I won't.

Oh well, I will post on here how it goes!!

I thought Tesco audits were unannounced. :dunno:

How did it go anyway?

Regards,
Simon

Get FREE bitesize education with IFSQN webinar recordings.
 
Download this handy excel for desktop access to over 180 Food Safety Friday's webinar recordings.
https://www.ifsqn.com/fsf/Free%20Food%20Safety%20Videos.xlsx

 
Check out IFSQN’s extensive library of FREE food safety videos
https://www.ifsqn.com/food_safety_videos.html


pawilliams1

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 43 posts
  • 3 thanks
1
Neutral

  • Wales
    Wales
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Bangor, Gwynedd
  • Interests:Food Safety, Quality Management Systems, HACCP

Posted 24 August 2009 - 10:48 AM

My Tesco, due this coming Wednesday, has been cancelled to be re-arranged at some time in the future.

I find myself strangely annoyed at this even though I got in a state of mild hysteria every time I thought of the audit. I must be going bonkers!!

Simon, Tesco audits aren't unannounced unless they are PIU audits, in which case they have to be. Or so I am told!!



Simon

    IFSQN...it's My Life

  • IFSQN Admin
  • 12,835 posts
  • 1363 thanks
881
Excellent

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Manchester
  • Interests:Married to Michelle, Father of three boys (Oliver, Jacob and Louis). I enjoy cycling, walking and travelling, watching sport, especially football and Manchester United. Oh and I love food and beer and wine.

Posted 25 August 2009 - 08:23 PM

Simon, Tesco audits aren't unannounced unless they are PIU audits, in which case they have to be. Or so I am told!!

Oh right I didn't realise there were two types of Tesco audit, and this is in the PIU thread. :helpplease: I'm even more confused now. Not difficult. :smile:

Regards,
Simon

Get FREE bitesize education with IFSQN webinar recordings.
 
Download this handy excel for desktop access to over 180 Food Safety Friday's webinar recordings.
https://www.ifsqn.com/fsf/Free%20Food%20Safety%20Videos.xlsx

 
Check out IFSQN’s extensive library of FREE food safety videos
https://www.ifsqn.com/food_safety_videos.html


Charles.C

    Grade - FIFSQN

  • IFSQN Moderator
  • 20,542 posts
  • 5665 thanks
1,545
Excellent

  • Earth
    Earth
  • Gender:Male
  • Interests:SF
    TV
    Movies

Posted 26 August 2009 - 05:25 PM

Dear Simon,

The PIU are perhaps operationally distinguished by the flak-jackets ;)

Rgds / Charles.C


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


Simon

    IFSQN...it's My Life

  • IFSQN Admin
  • 12,835 posts
  • 1363 thanks
881
Excellent

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Manchester
  • Interests:Married to Michelle, Father of three boys (Oliver, Jacob and Louis). I enjoy cycling, walking and travelling, watching sport, especially football and Manchester United. Oh and I love food and beer and wine.

Posted 31 August 2009 - 12:47 PM

Dear Simon,

The PIU are perhaps operationally distinguished by the flak-jackets ;)

Rgds / Charles.C

You are putting strange pictures un my mind Charles. :smile:

It begs the question on what citeria is PIU or not PIU audit determined? :dunno:

Get FREE bitesize education with IFSQN webinar recordings.
 
Download this handy excel for desktop access to over 180 Food Safety Friday's webinar recordings.
https://www.ifsqn.com/fsf/Free%20Food%20Safety%20Videos.xlsx

 
Check out IFSQN’s extensive library of FREE food safety videos
https://www.ifsqn.com/food_safety_videos.html


pawilliams1

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 43 posts
  • 3 thanks
1
Neutral

  • Wales
    Wales
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Bangor, Gwynedd
  • Interests:Food Safety, Quality Management Systems, HACCP

Posted 01 September 2009 - 12:37 PM

It begs the question on what citeria is PIU or not PIU audit determined? :dunno:


I am given to understand that PIU audits are based around damage that can be done to the Tesco brand and, believe it or not, the threat from food terrorism. This is why PIU audits are unannounced.

TFMS audits are about the production process hazards and product safety, quality and legality and the supplier's ethical trading credentials. This is why they book these in advance because Tesco only has a limited number of auditors who try to do as many audits in the same geographical area as possible over a certain number of days.

Hope that helps to make matters clear - every little helps!!


Caddyshack

    Grade - MIFSQN

  • IFSQN Member
  • 51 posts
  • 4 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

Posted 02 September 2009 - 07:34 PM

Well how did your audit go? We are all waiting in anticipation???????



Caddyshack

    Grade - MIFSQN

  • IFSQN Member
  • 51 posts
  • 4 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

Posted 02 September 2009 - 07:38 PM

Sorry, just read the cancelled bit.

RE Tesco, Am i correct in my thinking, A company has a supplier approval audit, then a first production run visit, then the annual unannouced audit by PIU.



sskubisnac

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 35 posts
  • 4 thanks
0
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:UK

Posted 03 September 2009 - 09:29 AM

Sorry, just read the cancelled bit.

RE Tesco, Am i correct in my thinking, A company has a supplier approval audit, then a first production run visit, then the annual unannouced audit by PIU.



The first two points are correct, as for the PIU audit there is some confusion whereby any Supplier packing final consumer product and labelling are liable for a PIU. This may not necessarily be the point of supply to the Tesco depot, but a subsidiary supplier.




Share this

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users