6 replies to this topic

[fstRicky]

Hi

Any thoughts on how you conduct internal Audits? Is it spread throughoutthe year? Do you have more than one a year? Anyone have an Internal AuditSchedule? I am struggling to get an indepenbdet person to Audit our QA systemto meet BRC requirement because mine is spread thru the whole year where weaudit independent sections on my manuals, getting someone to cover this continuouslyhas not been easy.

Would a checklist like the BRC or SQF be sufficient where the InternalAudit is conducted an completed in like three days?

Simply put what are the rest of you doing?

refst

Edited by refst, 16 August 2012 - 10:59 PM.

[Charles.C]

Simply put what are the rest of you doing?

Dear refst,

Yr question was a little general in scope.
Below are some (chronological) links to BRC input which should illustrate the range of viewpoints.

As you can see, for most people (but not 100%), the basic answer devolves onto the routine application (likely segmented) of some kind of risk based checklist, followed up with documented corrective actions (including root causes) where necessary. The details will inevitably be location specific, albeit usually containing numerous common denominators.

I hv seen examples of each of score-based, qualitative critical/Ma/Mi style, or neither, in use and equally accepted.

AFAIK, this kind of approach goes back to iso 90001 and maybe well beyond although the favoured risk assessment procedures are always in flux and invariably subjective IMO (eg simplest is best as long as it can be "validated" ?). BRC seem to be equally flexible IMEX.


http://www.ifsqn.com...udit-checklist/

http://www.ifsqn.com...h__1#entry53117

http://www.ifsqn.com...lanned-for-brc/

http://www.ifsqn.com...__fromsearch__1

http://www.ifsqn.com...it-requirement/

http://www.ifsqn.com...h__1#entry23576

http://www.ifsqn.com...h__1#entry17286

http://www.ifsqn.com...ch__1#entry3933

Rgds / Charles.C

[mgourley]

Hi

Any thoughts on how you conduct internal Audits? Is it spread throughoutthe year? Do you have more than one a year? Anyone have an Internal AuditSchedule? I am struggling to get an indepenbdet person to Audit our QA systemto meet BRC requirement because mine is spread thru the whole year where weaudit independent sections on my manuals, getting someone to cover this continuouslyhas not been easy.

Would a checklist like the BRC or SQF be sufficient where the InternalAudit is conducted an completed in like three days?

Simply put what are the rest of you doing?

refst

I break it up throughout the year, and I audit the Fundamentals twice per year. Do section 1 last.

There is no "right" way. It really all depends on how many trained auditors you have, how much free time they have, etc.

Marshall

[George @ Safefood 360°]

Hi refst,
It is worthwhile stating the purpose of conducting internal audits as it will help you put your questions into context. Internal auditing is a management tool used to objectively identify compliance and non-compliance in your system against a GSFI standard for example or your internal procedures.Using the audit process, evidence can be collected on both good and poor performance/compliance and finally it should stimulate actions designed to maintain standards and gain improvements. So why do we do it? Well it provides management the opportunity to step back, take a deep breath and outside the day-to-day bustle assess the system and its performance. This structured approach is essential for maintaining the efficacy of the system.

In other words, as the person responsible for the foodsafety system, internal auditing can be your best friend. The objective should not be to get it done with the least pain possible but rather to set it up according to your needs consistent with the requirements of the BRC standard.Give it the time it desires and look forward to the benefits.

Looking at your questions…

The audit program does not have to be spread throughout the year but IMO it should be. Not just for practical reasons. Your food operation and its management do not occur in one or two days each year. It is usually year round and the management process of internal auditing should reflect this. By conducting it once per year you are denying yourself the opportunity to detect emerging issues and correct them.

The typical way of doing this may include: Making a listof all aspects of the system that should be audited

Review each one and determine their significance based onrisk. For example HACCP/CCP’s may be audited more frequently. Fundamental requirements may also receive more attention and this can be conducted several times over the year. Why? Because if they fail there is a high probability that problems will arise.

Other areas on your list which you have determined not to be significant can be audited less frequently and indeed you may decide to cover these off in a single audit event in the year.

Remember there are limited resources. Risk assessment of each area allows you to apply these resources to the most important ones.

It is not unreasonable to use the BRC/SQF as an internal audit checklist. I have done this over many years. I recall one occasion where a BRCauditor pointed out that my transposed checklist was copyrighted. But no roadblocks appeared on my drive home afterwards.

In short, do what suits your local needs and resources.Take your time, risk assess and focus on those areas of greatest importance.

George

[Tony-C]

Hi

Any thoughts on how you conduct internal Audits? Is it spread throughoutthe year? Do you have more than one a year? Anyone have an Internal AuditSchedule? I am struggling to get an indepenbdet person to Audit our QA systemto meet BRC requirement because mine is spread thru the whole year where weaudit independent sections on my manuals, getting someone to cover this continuouslyhas not been easy.

Would a checklist like the BRC or SQF be sufficient where the InternalAudit is conducted an completed in like three days?

Simply put what are the rest of you doing?

refst

Hi Refst,

Useful links & guidance from Charles & George which should give you some ideas.

I would be scheduling regular audits throughout the year also taking into account seasonality, hours of operation and risk associated with products (high risk more than low risk!).

The BRC standard requires you to decide the inherent risk and determine audit frequency accordingly. BRC guidance suggests in doing this you consider the consequences of failure or inadequacy and that frequency should be influenced by known issues.

The use of a checklist covering the the BRC standard may be useful but is very unlikely to be comprehensive enough to cover the requirements of the standard.

Regards,

Tony

[fstRicky]

Thanks Charles, mgourley, George and Tony-C - Thansk for putting it all in perspective - now I have somehing to work with.
That is why I like this forum - helped me out so many times - my go to place.
Keep it up guys!

refst

[mgourley]

Just another thought.
If you are auditing a section that mentions "procedures" or "methods" or "documentation" or "training" then you need to branch out and audit the document control and training aspects as well. That's what real life auditors do.
BRC is intertwined, you can't just audit one section if that section refers to other parts of the standard.

Marshall