SQF 2.4.5.5 - Audits for approved suppliers?
Hey everybody. We had an audit last week (10 NCs), and I don't know that I agree with all of the things the auditor found. One in particular had to do with the approved supplier program.
2.4.5.5 says "A register of approved supplier and records of inspections and audits of approved suppliers shall be maintained."
I lost a point because we do not pursue audits of our suppliers. We only require that they have HACCP (in the case of packaging) or SQF (in the case of finished product) certification. The code is vague in that it does not require us to perform audits, only keep records of those we do.
It would have made more sense, I suppose, to have given us an NC on section 2.4.5.4 vi. "Details of the certificates of conformance if required," but that isn't what happened.
I'm not sure how to go about correcting this mistake.
Thomas from Snowy Nova Scotia.
Our Vendor (supplier) Approval Program has the following Audit requirements for Vendors (suppliers).
A) Annual 3rd party GMP Audit (certificated needs to be provided)
or
B) GFSI scheme certification (certificated needs to be provided)
or
C) On-site GMP Audit performed by me
We have a register showing which audit was performed, and we have files on each vendor, including audit certificates.
Setanta. We do have certificates on file for all the raw/finished goods and packaging suppliers, however their audit certificates don't always have their scores. I have a feeling some of the suppliers might be cagey about supplying those.
Hello Tadelong,
Seems like you got hit for the same thing I did under the same section. Same auditor? For some reason he wanted me audit my tertiary packaging people even though we have a CoC, a pallet inspection/control policy, and under my approval process I don't ask say it's necessary based on risk assessment. When I brought it up during the audit, he did what a psychologist would call "not play fair" well if you fight me on this I'll get you on this. You can always appeal, but is it worth it to be at 9 instead of 10? You're grade isn't moved from G to E with that 1 point. 96-100 = Excellent 86-95 =Good it's not like BRC where you can get an AA.
You're exactly right. Why would I bother fighting over a meaningless demerit? It just rubs me the wrong way, is all.
You're exactly right. Why would I bother fighting over a meaningless demerit? It just rubs me the wrong way, is all.
Trust me I'm 100% there with you. And you'll feel that way as you're typing out the CAR taking it out on your keyboard hammering at the keys and cursing at the monitor. It takes time, until then...woosah!!!
We require our raw ingredient, processing aids, and direct-contact packaging suppliers to have a GFSI certificate. If they are not GFSI certified, we require them to send us their full audit report to so we can review their non-conformances. As we've continued to do more external audits of suppliers, co-mans and potential suppliers we've realized some auditors are quite lenient. You would like to rely on the system but sometimes that is not always the case. I'd encourage you to not only get all audit reports, if possible, but to also start auditing as many of our suppliers as you can!
Hi everyone,
I am in the same situation as many people here and I am going to conduct audits at a cold storage facility where we store our products.
I was referred to document "SQF-code- edition-7.2-Checklist-final" on SQFI website but how do I know which module I have to use to audit the cold storage facility?
Would appreciate any help
Thanks
Snowbutcher,
The checklist I have to audit vendors/suppliers is a general one. The main thing you would be looking for is food safety, and adherence to documented programs. If any of the facilities have had a 3rd party audit, or are certified under a GFSI scheme, I'll ask to see the certificate and/or audit report, and make a note of it on my audit checklist.
I have attached the Vendor Audit checklist I use. I've seen some Audit Checklist that have point values for each item, so there's an actual score reported. This one doesn't have that, but you could add in point values, if you chose to. Let me know if you have any questions.
Attached Files
Thanks but that will not help.
The facility has not gone through any 3rd party and therefore we are required to audit them but MUST use SQF audit checklist.
Auditor was very clear on this matter, it has not been more than 3 business days since the audit but so I could get more clarification on the audit result report.
I was just hoping to get a head start.
Just finished the CAs for my nonconformances today. I ended up getting by with the audit results from all my suppliers, save for one, who sent a fax stating they hadn't received their certificate in the mail yet.
Can I have your email id
Can I have your email id
Not a good idea to post email addresses on the forum as they get scraped by spam bots and then you end up receiving a lot of spam. :diespam:
In our Supplier Approval and Monitoring Procedure, we state that we collect each supplier's annual audit, if available (I don't think we currently have any suppliers who aren't receiving some kind of audit certification). We perform an audit of each facility before taking anyone on as a supplier. If all is well, we audit them again every 2-3 years as long as we keep receiving their 3rd party audit certificates. If we have any quality complaints (contaminated resin, poor slipsheets, etc.), then we conduct another on-site audit of the facility.
We audit to our own GMP standards, because not every one of our suppliers is SQF certified. We look at Management Responsibility, Pest Control, Chemical Control, Shipping/Receiving, Inspection and Testing, Non-Conforming Material, Personnel, Maintenance, Manufacturing, Internal Auditing, Customer Complaints, Training, Process Control, HACCP (if in place), and Document Control.
So far, no auditor has had an issue with our process for supplier audits. Although, that may be because we only make packaging and don't produce any food. We are SQF Lvl 3 certified, though. However, the code also doesn't specify how frequently you should audit your suppliers, only that it's been done at some point...I suppose interpretation for that particular element heavily depends on the auditor.
Good luck on your CAR's! Our last audit had...8 minors and 1 OIP, so I feel your pain.
-Christina G
Wow. I don't know if I've ever had necromancy on one of my threads before. ChristinaG, I don't envy you attempting Level 3. what is an OIP?
Wow. I don't know if I've ever had necromancy on one of my threads before. ChristinaG, I don't envy you attempting Level 3. what is an OIP?
...I didn't even notice that it was an old thread...I'm going to blame Simon for this one! :oops:
An OIP is an "opportunity for improvement." I believe it's just something auditors use when they'd rather not give you a minor...at that moment, that is. I expect if we left it for our next re-certification audit that it would become a minor non-conformance, especially if the same auditor visits.
As for being Level 3....it's not so bad if you're a food packaging manufacturer.
In our Supplier Approval and Monitoring Procedure, we state that we collect each supplier's annual audit, if available (I don't think we currently have any suppliers who aren't receiving some kind of audit certification). We perform an audit of each facility before taking anyone on as a supplier. If all is well, we audit them again every 2-3 years as long as we keep receiving their 3rd party audit certificates. If we have any quality complaints (contaminated resin, poor slipsheets, etc.), then we conduct another on-site audit of the facility.
We audit to our own GMP standards, because not every one of our suppliers is SQF certified. We look at Management Responsibility, Pest Control, Chemical Control, Shipping/Receiving, Inspection and Testing, Non-Conforming Material, Personnel, Maintenance, Manufacturing, Internal Auditing, Customer Complaints, Training, Process Control, HACCP (if in place), and Document Control.
So far, no auditor has had an issue with our process for supplier audits. Although, that may be because we only make packaging and don't produce any food. We are SQF Lvl 3 certified, though. However, the code also doesn't specify how frequently you should audit your suppliers, only that it's been done at some point...I suppose interpretation for that particular element heavily depends on the auditor.
Good luck on your CAR's! Our last audit had...8 minors and 1 OIP, so I feel your pain.
-Christina G
Hello,
can you please share with me if you have vendor management program? or checklist during suppliers audit.
thank you very much
geneillexxx