Posted 15 June 2013 - 04:28 PM
We are having our pre-assessment preformed next month and audit the following month. Almost all food safety documentation has been in effect for quit some time, but the food quality documentation has recently been implemented. We have had many quality aspects in place for a while but no verification up til last month. The main concern I have is the template for the desk audit.
Will the auditor be looking for a certain template or order of documentation or am I looking to far into this aspect???
Like I mentioned before we have BCP, senior management policy, disaster recovery plan, all PRP's, etc...I created a rough draft and seems way to long including all plant GMP's, SOP's, and SSOP's. This seemed very redundant considering we have all listed in in separate manuals and electronically filed.
What should I expect for an auditor to be looking for pertaining to our Template??? Is all information readily available in the order of the Code sufficient?
If we have a client that wants a paper based system we normally set them up with two key binders - in this case for FSC 20 that would be binder 2 and binder 11 and then index by SQF Code number - each section (as needed) referencing additional back-up material that can be placed on computer/other binders, etc. For our FSMS SQF web-based system it is basically set up the same way except there are a bunch of link overs to other sections of the software, etc.
Many SQF Auditors that I know (I am also one of these sometimes) run the audits in SQF Code order... and having a system set up based on the code saves a lot of headaches for everyone involved. With that said there are also times when Auditors will skip around or request items by name out of order. I would suggest having your index available that not only shows the code number in order but the documents in order as well.
I disagree with the thought of making an auditor work for their money - Believe me when I say I don't believe that most auditors are paid enough for what they do, they work a lot before, during and after an audit. They are already "working for their money more so than you will ever know", why push the buttons to begin with?
We have found if you make these steps easier on an auditor you and they will have a lot less stress in getting the job done professionally and fair.
Glenn
Kind regards,
Glenn Oster
GOC Group | +1.800.793.7042 | Serving the Food, Food Packaging & Food Storage Industries
SQF Development, Implementation & Certification Consultants
In a nutshell we help small to large businesses to get their act together (as needed), help them to co-develop
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all in about 30 days so your staff can implement with our assistance to retain and get new business!
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