Is it possible to pass an SQF audit with little staff?
Hello Everyone!
I am working at a small dry manufacturing facility and owner wants to get SQF certified soon.
My question is: Is it possible to pass an SQF audit with little staff?? There is no Plant manager, no Sanitation team, no engineers and Quality department its just me. I know SQF requires "management". Just wondering if anyone was in the same situation.
Thank you...
I would say that as long as those tasks that are critical to your operation, that would be dealt with by the departments/people you listed in your post, are being done by someone and is documented, you should be fine.
Even though you have no managers etc. I would try where you can to make it a team effort, for example the HACCP team, audit team etc. Spread the knowledge and spread the load, get the big boss involved also with review meetings. That said as long as you meet the requirements effectively you can be structured in a way that is best for your unique business.
Regards,
Simon
Thank you everyone, and yes Simon that would me my challenge trying to spread the load since they don't even trust any of the line employees to even fill out forms.
As far as HACCP team, its just me again :headhurts: nobody wants to be part of it and as I many times advice it should be a "team" still no response... I am starting to feel hopeless..... :wacko:
Hi Angie,
I believe it is a practical fact that most (all?) of the GFSI recognized FS Standards are assumed to be going to be implemented by non-small “Organisations”. Presumably related to the Scope of the Standards.
This does not mean that small groups are specifically excluded but the practicality of implementation, for example with respect to HACCP and the MS, is likely to relate to the “size/nature/complexity” of the actual process and its associated/documented control requirements.
Personally, when I started designing a FS system I initially located a potential CB and dumped questions like your minimum number on them. IMEX the mere scent of a potential, long-term, auditee client will readily generate free answers for one's specific situation. Plus the auditors should have met all such queries many times over.
There are several threads here discussing opportunities where very small QA/Production numbers exist and I can recall one case with, from memory, a solo QA member, but as per Simon’s post, this then mandated a co-opting of Plant Personnel into haccp related functions so as to generate a “team”. At the risk of over-pessimism, some potential trials / tribulations are visible in these post/threads –
http://www.ifsqn.com...tem/#entry83891
http://www.ifsqn.com...dit/#entry57839
As you can see, you are far from being on yr own. I should note there are some positive opinions here also, just couldn’t find them offhand. :smile:
I used the word “mandated” above to emphasise that one of the aspects considered critical to achieving a satisfactory FS system is (Top) Management Commitment (TMC). And one of the key functions (IMO) is for TMC to approve “Policies” for the FS System. (And Funding !).
I would suggest that your Policy No.1 is concerning the formation of a HACCP team. If TMC regarding this is not forthcoming, IMHO the Writing is on the Wall.
Thank you Charles C!
I am starting my day reading your comment and it gives me a fresh start.
I am too (like one of the threads you posted) starting from scratch, writing SOP's, HACCP plan, sanitation, maintenance schedule, and get a little bit overwhelmed at times.
I love my career and I don't want to start hating it because of this one bad experience.
I see that I am not alone in this now... :biggrin:
Absolutely possible. We have worked with a number of small facilities where one or two people wear many different hats.