15 replies to this topic

[D-D]

I am trying to think of everything that needs to go on the "Approved Supplier List" for "anything product-related" and came up with the following:

Product Raw Materials

Product Packaging

Transportation

Cleaning chemicals

Contractors

Test houses

Laundry

Waste removal

Water and utilities

Pest control

Calibration company

Canteen supplier(?)

I doubt it is complete so what do you think is missing (is any of it overkill?)...thoughts? Thanks.

[cazyncymru]

I am trying to think of everything that needs to go on the "Approved Supplier List" for "anything product-related" and came up with the following:

Product Raw Materials

Product Packaging

Transportation

Cleaning chemicals

Contractors

Test houses

Laundry

Waste removal

Water and utilities

Pest control

Calibration company

Canteen supplier(?)

I doubt it is complete so what do you think is missing (is any of it overkill?)...thoughts? Thanks.

Engineering suppliers

Consultants

Training providers

Agencies

Caz x

[D-D]

Engineering suppliers

Consultants

Training providers

Agencies

Caz x

Bore da Caz; thanks for that.

By 'Agencies', I can think of recruitment agencies but do you have others in mind?

[cazyncymru]

Bore da Caz; thanks for that.

By 'Agencies', I can think of recruitment agencies but do you have others in mind?

Bore Da D-D!!

If you use casual staff through an agency, you should audit them (Gangmaster licence, that the people are allowed to work in UK, Illegal imigrants etc)

c xx

[Madam A. D-tor]

Do not forget the cleaning company and the temperature control supplier (maybe a separate failure alert company?)

[Charles.C]

Dear D-D,

Approvable ink suppliers for printed packaging (I appreciate the risk is low if no direct contact but auditors hv pursued me on this.) IMEX, the packaging supplier will often not do this themself although they obviously should do, particularly if they are not a "famous" brand.

Rgds / Charles.C

[D-D]

Thanks all.

Another one that occurred to me is software - e.g. security of that which runs the company and validity of that which generates analytical results. I remember in a previous life an ISO 9001 auditor pulling all that apart.


One other thing:
Supplier Review - how often should this be? Is every 3 years too infrequent (should it be annual...)?

Edited by D-D, 23 April 2010 - 03:20 PM.

[Zeeshan]

One other thing:
Supplier Review - how often should this be? Is every 3 years too infrequent (should it be annual...)?

Dear D-D,

IMEX, in a good organization, interval for supplier review is not too long. Although not clearly specified for supplier review, many management system standards specify that a review process shall be undertaken at appropriate planned intervals, as a minimum annually. Since Supplier Performance have a major impact on quality and food safety of the end product, it should be reviewed on the basis of quality, quantity and safety at reasonable intervals.

Regards:

M. Zeeshan.

[GMO]

Laboratory if you use an external lab?

Caz got there first on other things I'd thought of!

Supplier review should be (BRC favourite)... based on risk assessment! Lol! Seriously, I would review raw material suppliers more often than secondary packaging suppliers. You could normally set up a questionnaire to establish the risk each supplier poses and that will be based on the inherent risk (e.g. an ingredient is riskier) but a supplier who is accredited to BRC at grade A may be seen as lower risk than one who got a grade C or has no accreditations.

[Tony-C]

I am trying to think of everything that needs to go on the "Approved Supplier List" for "anything product-related" and came up with the following:

Product Raw Materials

Product Packaging

Transportation

Cleaning chemicals

Contractors

Test houses

Laundry

Waste removal

Water and utilities

Pest control

Calibration company

Canteen supplier(?)

I doubt it is complete so what do you think is missing (is any of it overkill?)...thoughts? Thanks.

Maybe Security - unless you are including this under contractors or employ your own

I wouldn't be so specific as to say Cleaning Chemicals as I would want to inlcude all chemicals used including water treatment and Engineering chemicals

Regards,

Tony

[EmmE]

I realize this topic is a couple months old, but have a question as I will be updating my approved supplier list as soon.

If adding outside contractors (equipment maintenance, Heating & Air Conditioning) , Waste Management companies, Water & Utilities, what type of standards do I hold them to and audit against other than licensure and docs proving proficiency in their field?

Regards,

EmmE

Edited by EmmE, 19 July 2010 - 10:50 PM.

[Simon]

What about ensuring they have a quality system in place such as ISO 9001:2008.

[EmmE]

What about ensuring they have a quality system in place such as ISO 9001:2008.

Thanks Simon,

All the usual schemes did come to mind but I know with most of these compnies, it isn't common practice to hava a quality scheme in place. Water and Waste Management may be the only exceptions.

Requesting some to put a quality system in place didn't work out in my favor either. As we are a fairly small company these suppliers wouldn't miss the pocket change from our business. Basically we don't buy enough from any one supplier for them to feel our request is justified.

In this sitution what is the best way to handle this?

Regards,

EmmE

[Tony-C]

Thanks Simon,

All the usual schemes did come to mind but I know with most of these compnies, it isn't common practice to hava a quality scheme in place. Water and Waste Management may be the only exceptions.

Requesting some to put a quality system in place didn't work out in my favor either. As we are a fairly small company these suppliers wouldn't miss the pocket change from our business. Basically we don't buy enough from any one supplier for them to feel our request is justified.

In this sitution what is the best way to handle this?

Regards,

EmmE

What about risk assessing (BRC seem to love risk assessments!) the activities performed/items supplied and putting in place controls necessary to ensure product safety. Some things can be covered off by say a permit to work including food safety rules and authorisation of a specific activity.

Regards,

Tony

[Simon]

What about risk assessing (BRC seem to love risk assessments!) the activities performed/items supplied and putting in place controls necessary to ensure product safety. Some things can be covered off by say a permit to work including food safety rules and authorisation of a specific activity.

Regards,

Tony

We often say quite glibly on here "do a risk assessment" as per the BRC requirements these days. I think it is a very clever thing that the BRC have done as a risk assessment is just about considering very careful what controls are required for your own unique situation. I like it. I like it a lot.

[Tony-C]

We often say quite glibly on here "do a risk assessment" as per the BRC requirements these days. I think it is a very clever thing that the BRC have done as a risk assessment is just about considering very careful what controls are required for your own unique situation. I like it. I like it a lot.

Yes they do splash "risk assessment" everywhere. Supplier Assurance is one area where it is actually of great value.