How to explain quality objectives in BRC or IFS standards?

Dear all on the forum,

Recently I am thinking one word present in BRC or IFS standards.

The word is "objectives".

In BRC or IFS standard quality and safety objectives are the key targets covered by respective policies stated by factories.

How to explain such objectives? In China, a popular method is explaining by means of statistic data. e.g. Customer satisfaction rate above 99%. Final product conformity rate above 99% etc.

However, in Codex or EU legislations I often observed one or two sentence to express the objectives of the written document. e.g. In CAC/RCP 1-1969 General Principles of Food Hygiene, page two, one objective is stated as identify the essential principles of food hygiene applicable through out the food chain (including primary production though to the final consumer), to achieve the goal of ensuring that food is safe & suitable for human consumption.

My question is that whether it is possible to state the factory quality objectives in manner of description, but not in manner of setting a number taget? And how to review the described objectives in your management review? If yes, would you like to give some examples following your comment?

Any opinion would be greatly appreciated!

Best regards,

Jason

'Fulful 90% of the food safety training plan within a period of one year' I hope this can be an example of objective. As per ISO 22000, An objective should contain the specific target, measuring parameter and the time period to achieve the target. To compare the achievements, its always better to have the previous year datas.

I am also searching for some specific food safety objectives to be assigned for different departments like purchase, HR, Operations/production, QA etc...Could anyone brief about common organizational objectives related to food safety?

Rgds
Jomy Abraham

'Fulful 90% of the food safety training plan within a period of one year' I hope this can be an example of objective. As per ISO 22000, An objective should contain the specific target, measuring parameter and the time period to achieve the target. To compare the achievements, its always better to have the previous year datas.

I am also searching for some specific food safety objectives to be assigned for different departments like purchase, HR, Operations/production, QA etc...Could anyone brief about common organizational objectives related to food safety?

Rgds
Jomy Abraham

Dear Jomy,

Thank you so much for kind explanation

Well, figure target is really easier reviewed than described one.

About your last query, let me try to give an answer. Some factories in China use KPI concept to establish the general objective.

e.g. During one year, complaints controled within 10, none among which relate to food safety.

I have no idea if this is correct, hoping forum experts could give your valuable recommendation!

Thank you in advance,

Best regards,

Jason

Dear Jason,


IMO objectives can be in words, but they need to be SMARTI (Specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic, timeframed, inspiring).
In the Netherlands objectives are usually established on specific goals we like to obtain in the coming year (or other timeframe). E.g. on reducing complaints in stead of maximal xx complaints a year. Especially if there is an improvement project related to these complaint reduction.
When I am thinking about it: good objectives are almost always related to continious improvement. e.g. reduction of complaints, improvement of efficiency, reduction of costs, improvement of supplier reliability, improvement of % first time right, etc. Ofcourse always including a percentage of number, a time frame and how to obtain.
Sometimes companies like to describe their objectives as: maintain certification, maintain customers, etc. I, find these objectives not ambitious, and invite these companies to exame if these are the only things they want to obtain in the coming year.

Most companies, find it really hard to establish good SMARTI objectives.

Dear Jason,


IMO objectives can be in words, but they need to be SMARTI (Specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic, timeframed, inspiring).
In the Netherlands objectives are usually established on specific goals we like to obtain in the coming year (or other timeframe). E.g. on reducing complaints in stead of maximal xx complaints a year. Especially if there is an improvement project related to these complaint reduction.
When I am thinking about it: good objectives are almost always related to continious improvement. e.g. reduction of complaints, improvement of efficiency, reduction of costs, improvement of supplier reliability, improvement of % first time right, etc. Ofcourse always including a percentage of number, a time frame and how to obtain.
Sometimes companies like to describe their objectives as: maintain certification, maintain customers, etc. I, find these objectives not ambitious, and invite these companies to exame if these are the only things they want to obtain in the coming year.

Most companies, find it really hard to establish good SMARTI objectives.

Dear Madam A. D-tor,

Thank you so much for precise replying!

SMARTI concept is really a good way to be a framework of establishing objectives. And you let me beleive that it is possible to establish an objective without "number". However, when review it, numerous data is a simplest way to review such objectives.

Learn a lot from you,

Best Regards,

Jason

Some examples for objectives I value in my audits are:

- 0 claims relating food safety items (this must be a recurrent objective year after year, and its compliance means the exit of a FSMS). This is NOT related to claims due to quality (weight, flavours, stational produce with decay problems, etc.)
- 0 foodstuffs produced and deliverd with a PPC out of control
- minumum deviations during internal controls (verification of GHP, maintenance of facilities, work enviroment)

Usually objectives are focused to quality/money: to sale more, to have more clients,... its important to fix some objectives for food safety due to the fact that a FSMS is been auditing

Regards

Dear all on the forum,

Recently I am thinking one word present in BRC or IFS standards.

The word is "objectives".

In BRC or IFS standard quality and safety objectives are the key targets covered by respective policies stated by factories.

How to explain such objectives? In China, a popular method is explaining by means of statistic data. e.g. Customer satisfaction rate above 99%. Final product conformity rate above 99% etc.

However, in Codex or EU legislations I often observed one or two sentence to express the objectives of the written document. e.g. In CAC/RCP 1-1969 General Principles of Food Hygiene, page two, one objective is stated as identify the essential principles of food hygiene applicable through out the food chain (including primary production though to the final consumer), to achieve the goal of ensuring that food is safe & suitable for human consumption.

My question is that whether it is possible to state the factory quality objectives in manner of description, but not in manner of setting a number taget? And how to review the described objectives in your management review? If yes, would you like to give some examples following your comment?

Any opinion would be greatly appreciated!

Best regards,

Jason

Dear Jose22000,

Thanks a lot for good examples,

Apologize for my poor Enlgish Level but what does PPC mean?

Best regards,

Jason