Positive Release

Could somebody be kind enough and explain what positive release is. The question of do you operate a positive release system? is popping up more and more in supplier self audits that i'm completing, and i don't understand what it is and how it operates.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi Shelly,

Interesting question. IMO positive release means ensuring that the product conforms with all elements of the specification before it is released to the customer.

No doubt you carry out some quality assurance inspection and testing activities throughout various stages of your manufacturing process. But are the results of these tests reviewed by someone before releasing the product to the customer? I think this is one element of a positive release system.

Much of the inspection and testing activities in for example packaging manufacture will be via sampling i.e. testing a sample of product at the beginning of a run and at set points through the run. And I'm not sure if you can positively release something without 100% inspection - in most cases this type of inspection is not feasible.

In the BRC/IoP I don't believe that it mentions the words 'positive release' and therefore it is not a requirement. However, in section 4.11 Product Analysis, clause 4.11.5 states: "Quality checks shall be carried out to demonstrate that the product is within the tolerances laid down in the agreed product specification." But 100%?

Anyone else got an angle on this?

Regards,
Simon

Just noticed to add insult to injury -

Section 9 - Glossary of Terms:

Positive Release - Ensuring a product or material is to the correct specification prior to release for use.

On this definition - I think we can all say that we operate a positive release system

You see that's what can happen when you don't read the instructions first.

Simon

As you have correctly stated Richard the BRC/IoP Standard defines ‘positive release' as 'ensuring a product or material is to the correct specification prior to release for use.' and ‘positive release' is referred to within the standard text in the ‘Recommendations on Good Practice' in the following:

4.6.5 Raw material monitoring - Where appropriate acceptance of raw materials for use in production should be by a ‘positive release'

5.2.3 Customer Returns should not enter finished goods area without hygiene inspection and ‘positive release'

I was always of the opinion that ‘positive release' was as I stated earlier 'ensuring that the product conforms with all elements of the specification before it is released to the customer.' The definition is not taken from anywhere in particular it's my own based on experience of and discussions with food safety auditors during audits and other SQA activities. My opinion hasn't changed. Of course auditors are interested in the process and the QA activities that are carried out, but they are more interested in the output of the process i.e. the product and whether it conforms to the specification after it has passed through the manufacturing process and all of the quality control activities.

To bring the thread back on track Shelly's asked what positive release is and how a positive release system operates.

I'm pretty sure that Shelly's customers are talking about ‘positive release' in terms of finished product and they want to know if and how it is assured. IMHO to provide this form of positive release a system needs to be in place whereby all QC / QA records relating to the batch run are verified as completed and validated against the specification prior to the batch being released for dispatch.

On this definition - how many of us can say that we operate a positive release system?

Regards,
Simon

IMHO to provide this form of positive release a system needs to be in place whereby all QC / QA records relating to the batch run are verified as completed and validated against the specification prior to the batch being released for dispatch.

On this definition – how many of us can say that we operate a positive release system?

Hi Simon,

in former times I worked in a pharmaceutical company and product was released if and only if batch records were complete and satisfactory

Never seen anything like that in food or food packaging companies

This is what I would like to have as a customer, but don't like to fill in as a supplier

I actually know a packaging supplier of lacquered aluminium foil that operates to this level - they do a range of tests including for retained solvents and material cannot be despatched without QA approval.

The recent Coca Cola incident shows the cost of not having a positive release system:

Coke withdraws Dasani in UK

Regards,
Simon

Thanks for all that Guys, much appreciated by all.

Do feel abit of a fool when the answer was staring me in the face all the time.

Cheers!

Thanks for all that Guys, much appreciated by all.

Do feel a bit of a fool when the answer was staring me in the face all the time.

Cheers!

You are welcome Shelly. It was a very good and interesting question and we are all here to learn from each other.

Regards,
Simon