2.1.4.1 Management Review - Who is "Senior Management"?

In reference to SQF Code 2.1.4.1, The senior management shall be responsible for reviewing the SQF System and documenting the review procedure. Reviews shall include the policy manual, internal and external audit findings, corrective actions and their investigations and resolution, customer complaints and their resolution and investigation.

Who does SQF define as Senior Management?  I am the one right now who does all the legwork of the system review.  I then in turn relate all to the president of the company and let him know what I going to improve, adjust, etc.   

My title is Quality Coordinator and I currently have the responsibility of SQF practitioner under my role as well as other duties. I also oversee the logistics, inventory, scheduling, warehouse, purchasing, and of course all SQF duties.  It may seem like much but with the structure we have in place it is a fairly smooth process. I have one person under me who takes care of the daily paperwork reviews, audits, etc for Quality and I also have one person under me who takes care of the day to day of the warehouse. We are a small company of 17 people to include the accounting and president.

Would I qualify or be defined as "Senior Management"?

Yes, however include the President during the review and sign off that way.

That would be one way to represent "senior management." and would qualify just fine and be in compliance with the requirement.

Dear SQF Consultant,

I have no detailed knowledge of SQF system, but I do not agree with you.

In my opinion, in this example, "senior management" is the president of the company. The one or ones that decide where to spend money and/or time.

In my opinion the pré-work can be done by a QA engineer/coordinator/officer /manager, but the conclusions and decisions should be taken by senior management. This is important to get senior management commitment (and money and time for improvements and investments).If the senior management themselves conclude their need to be improvements, they will be more eagerly to make it work and to spend money and time to it.

Thank you two for your replies. I think the big question though is --- What is the definition of "Senior Management"?  Does it have to be the president?  I am management with the authority to buy, invest, change the SQF system.  

I don't have SQF experience but I worry hearing someone say "I cover off this standard on my own".  In reality, no-one can.  Your responsibility may be SQF but do you have complete control of all budgets?  If there was a food safety risk requiring capex, would you have the authority to be able to say "I'm spending a $250,000 because that's our priority"?  Do you manage all of the staff so have complete control on how they're trained or who would get disciplinary action?  Do you decide what products are developed and sold as that can increase food safety risk?

Ultimately the review in my experience of other GFSI standards should include the most senior people on site who represent each function and the person who leads the company or if you're a multi site operation it may be acceptable to have the person who leads the site if they have full P&L and capex decision making.  

A thing I try to drum into my team very early in their careers is you must learn, you cannot do this alone.  In other GFSI standards, this is one of those occasions where they try and force people into reviewing technical KPIs who don't think that Technical is their job (but actually they really should.)

It would help to have some idea of the structure of your business?  Is there anyone else at the same level as you?  Do they have line management, decision making or budgetary responsibility?  If so, then they need including.  If you manage the whole deal then perhaps people below you as well as the President need to be involved?

Dear jjauregui,

I am sorry to confuse you. Again I do not have knowledge of SQF.

Definition of senior management:

- in BRC: Those with strategic/high-level operational responsibility for the company and the capability to authorise the financial or human resources necessary for the implementation of the standard.

- in IFS: executive management.

- in ISO 22000: person or group of people who directs and controls an organization at the highest level. Top management has the power to delegate authority and provide resources within the organization. If the scope of the management system (3.04) covers only part of an organization then top management refers to those who direct and control that part of the organization.

If you have total responsibility to buy, invest and change the SQF system, does that also mean you have this responsibility for the whole company? Or just related to the SQF system? A quality management system should be integrated in the whole organization and on each department there will be pieces of SQF. It is so important to have commitment through the whole organization. The management review meetings are the moments that you can make this commitment.

I know from experience that it is easier way to do it by your own. You do not need to convince any one. It is also easier for the management to make one person responsible and let him/her do the work. Please do not make it a one man show (even though it will surely be a fantastic one) It is also better for the company that more people are involved in the quality management system, maybe, you know, someday... you will find yourself another career.

I can see your point.  no I don't have unlimited budget and to be honest not even the president does.  There are owners we have to answer too.  With that being said though I do believe I have reasonable authority and budget to make changes, instruct training, etc in order to ensure there are no failures in our food safety program.  However after reading what you wrote I agree with you, it would be best to have the President review the system with me as well. 

Dear GMO,

Sorry! I was writing my reply, when you were writing yours.

We seems to have similar ideas and experience on this.

One approach:  determine the scope of your SQF certification - local plant only or entire company?

Who is the highest manager within that scope?  Include that person and anyone who directly reports to that person.

Senior management are the people who make sure there are adequate resources for your food safety program - money, materials, etc.