7 replies to this topic

[agwanda]

Dear All,

I am in amaze! Would one ever make a consideration of doing an audit before a management system is officially endorsed or launched by the top management? Does the absence of top management endorsement result to a non conformance for the MR.

Kindly advice.

Agwanda

[gcse-fhp]

Internal audits are to be conducted at every opportunity. In fact, you probably already do if you are in a supervisory or management role. It is always good to validate, verify and find opportunities for improvement. This, precisely, is what auditing is for and it pertains to everything, every situation, every engagement, every industry, everywhere.



By all means conduct an audit before a management system is officially endorsed or launched by the top management. If you do not, that is a non-conformity already even if any standards indicates that it is not.

[MQA]

I think you also need to consider:

• How long has the program been running for?
• What food safety / quality assurance standard do you follow?

Internal Audits, GMP Checks, Corrective Actions, Management Reviews, Quality Meetings - these all talk to each other anyway (or should!). So if you're already conducting these, then you are conducting internal auditing on some level - just ensure everything is documented.

Also: introductory / draft internal audit or review of your systems whilst you await management endorsement is a great way to ensure the new food safety system in place does in fact work for you. No two food safety systems are exactly the same.

[mind over matter]

Dear All,

I am in amaze! Would one ever make a consideration of doing an audit before a management system is officially endorsed or launched by the top management? Does the absence of top management endorsement result to a non conformance for the MR.

Kindly advice.

Agwanda

Not necessarily. To get a pretty clear picture if it is nonconformance or not, the auditor have to check if top management had done their job, are committed, provide resources, and carry out all the necessary part of their duties by finding evidence that they had done so throughout the duration and stages of the audit.

[Zeeshan]

Dear All,

I am in amaze! Would one ever make a consideration of doing an audit before a management system is officially endorsed or launched by the top management? Does the absence of top management endorsement result to a non conformance for the MR.

Kindly advice.

Agwanda

Totally agreeing with the replies of other members. Just to add some comments:

Although not necessary, it would, definitely, be beneficial for getting official endorsement/approval of top management in any shape before doing an official audit. Benefits includes getting moral support in conducting effective audits and doing effective reporting and getting official support in implementing corrective actions more effectively.

Internal audit is one of the most important verification activities. IMO it should closely and seriously be monitored and managed by top management of every organization and official endorsement of audit plans and audit reports are some of the evidences which shows that top management is committed to establish, maintain and continually improve the organization.

Regards:
M.Zeeshan

[Simon]

The management system should be at the core of the overall company strategy, if it’s just an add-on then it’s doomed to failure. Furthermore senior management commitment is a fundamental requirement of any management system, demonstrated by setting policies and objectives and ensuring they are cascaded and realized throughout the organization. If they cannot be bothered nor have the gumption to articulate the plan (the why, what and how) to the workforce then it’s unlikely the management system will function effectively or efficiently.

Regards,
Simon

[Charles.C]

Dear All,

I am rather confused by the original post.

I deduce this refers to a manufacturing situation where finished product is being commercialised.

Surely this implies that "Peak Management" has already approved the system even if not explicitly. We all know where the buck, auditor-wise, ultimately stops. ?? Job-wise is a different question

Rgds / Charles.C

[mind over matter]

agwanda,

I would ask about the location of the Safety Team Leader in your company’s organizational chart?