41 replies to this topic

[GMO]

On the UK manufacturers point of view, I feel that they're being forced down the unannounced route by the big retailers.

Personally, if I'm being made to have unannounced audits by Tesco, as a Tesco customer, I feel like I should be able to do an unannounced audit on their store (deli, bakery, back room etc). Surely that's fair?

[Simon]

On the UK manufacturers point of view, I feel that they're being forced down the unannounced route by the big retailers.

Personally, if I'm being made to have unannounced audits by Tesco, as a Tesco customer, I feel like I should be able to do an unannounced audit on their store (deli, bakery, back room etc). Surely that's fair?

It sounds fair to me GMO, but as we know life's not fair.

[Simon]

Somebody voted in the poll making this post catch me eye.

Personally, from a production viewpoint, I always classified such unwelcome activities as equivalent to a giant mosquito bite. And yes, based on my inspectorial experience, every factory has some (at least major) defects, even though they may not always realise it.

I agree every system I have ever seen (including my own) has some major defects or at least some significant unidentified opportunities for improvement. That's part of contnual improvement.

If an audit does not identify these then it is either too short or the auditor is not skilled enough or both. Don't ever rest on your laurels, especially if you get zero nonconformities...that's the time to get really worried.

Regards,
Simon

[sabarina]

As soon as the auditor arrives; we have a team of people who check to ensure everything is in order and they also inform all concerned that the auditor is on site.

same like us...but still got overlooked all the time....

[Simon]

same like us...but still got overlooked all the time....

Thanks for your honesty Sabarina. I think this is the norm to a certain degree.

It's a bit like when the Queen is in town.

Regards,
Simon

[QLD]

I have not had to endure an unannounced audit since moving from the UK. We were alway pretty much there but as contract change hands so quickly in the UK the threat of a bad customer audit caused alot of stress and extra tidying up.

Never failed an audit but did have to pull the look of shock face when a metal detector failed when tested, on the plus side got capital for a new one as a result.

On paper unannounced sounds great from a CI point of view but not in the UK.

[Simon]

I have not had to endure an unannounced audit since moving from the UK. We were alway pretty much there but as contract change hands so quickly in the UK the threat of a bad customer audit caused alot of stress and extra tidying up.

Never failed an audit but did have to pull the look of shock face when a metal detector failed when tested, on the plus side got capital for a new one as a result.

On paper unannounced sounds great from a CI point of view but not in the UK.

Why not in the UK QLD?

[Dr. Donal Hughes]

What say you? Please answer the poll and drop your comments below.

Regards,
simon

There was once a time when the Quality Manager's salary was directly related to how fast he/she could turn a busy production floor in all its guts and glory into a pristine floor with happy workers like in a 40's propaganda film. Alas that day has gone. It built my house though!

The answer here is plain and simple. Run your business like you are always prepared for an audit. If the Tesco (or whoever) auditor cannot compute a busy production floor, with all its minor issues, which is producing safe quality food, then he/she is not worth their salt.

You should not be intimidated by an auditor, you should work with them. Never argue with an auditor, reason with them. Common sense will out.

I have been on both sides of the ropes. Trust me.

Kind Regards,
Dr. Donal

[Charles.C]

Dear Donal,

Very nicely constructed. As is yr house also i presume.

I fear I am less tolerant than you. I tend to classify auditors as un-necessary evils until proven otherwise. IMEX, it's all a question of leverage.

Best Rgds / Charles.C

[QLD]

Why not in the UK QLD?

married an aussie, she was keen to go home and I fancied the experience of living in another country.

There are alot of things I struggle to adjust to but overall its a great place to live and bring up the kids.

It also great to be here when we are doing so well in the cricket !!

[Simon]

married an aussie, she was keen to go home and I fancied the experience of living in another country.

There are alot of things I struggle to adjust to but overall its a great place to live and bring up the kids.

It also great to be here when we are doing so well in the cricket !!

Ahh I see...and the 2nd test starts tomorrow or tonight, soon anyway. Too soon for the Aussies.

[herb b]

Whew...We had an unanounced FDA audit last week, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and on MOnday, our scheduled 3rd party audit.

The scope of the FDA audits was interesting. Much time spent in the plant observing, some paperwork verification. I am glad to see that much more time was spent observing actual operations as opposed to just reviewing paperwork.

End result was all good, some items to work on, etc.

They brought up a good question about beard nets...will post in another forum.

[food safety and haccp]

hi simon can you please send me the hygiene validation pdf file to my email id, REMOVED please reply simon

[Simon]

hi simon can you please send me the hygiene validation pdf file to my email id, REMOVED please reply simon

I have no idea what you are talking about, you have responded to a topic about unannounced audits.

Whew...We had an unanounced FDA audit last week, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and on MOnday, our scheduled 3rd party audit.

The scope of the FDA audits was interesting. Much time spent in the plant observing, some paperwork verification. I am glad to see that much more time was spent observing actual operations as opposed to just reviewing paperwork.

End result was all good, some items to work on, etc.

They brought up a good question about beard nets...will post in another forum.

I agree herb evidence of an effective FSMS can only be found on the factory floor and not in a well indexed manual. Documentation is important, but what operators know, say, do and don't do is what keeps the food safe. A balanced audit is the key and that's where I have issue with BRC audits, every single requirement must be audited at each audit...and that is a heck of a lot of paperwork.

Regards,
Simon

[jpalombi]

Most of our audits are announced. We average one per week, so we really don't have a problem with the unnanounced audits. It does take about 15minutes for auditors to be passed through security, and during that time the alert goes out and the defect crew makes sure that no one has lost their mind, and that all the like colors are together.

[Gourav]

We are into airline catering. Many an airline conduct unannounced audit themselves or they have hired pros for this. So we have to be prepared everyday for the audit.

Thanks

Gourav

[Hazira]

My client told us last week that they will implement unannounced audit this year (for BRC). Hopefully everything going to be ok, because i believe in my production team. 

But i have a question, for those who already experience the unannounced audit, did the duration of audit is the same with announced audit?

This year is my second BRC audit, for first year, we have three mandays audit, how about second year? can anyone give me answers.

Thank you.