Hi Everyone,
I have a few questions about SQF's requirements for a training program, and more specifically their documentation requirements for training records. I am currently head of training for the QA department at a Broth/Beverage plant in the US. Unfortunately when I came into this position we had no cohesive training records or training plan in place. My record system I've developed document's a QA staff member's training/understanding of each individual procedure/SOP, along with signoffs from the trainer, trainee, and supervisor. Because of the lack of records for our existing employees, I'm working to get both the veteran staff and newly hired staff documented on training at the same time. Obviously it's been a pretty tedious process! We have hundreds of SOPs, so it's become a massive spreadsheet that requires hundreds of signoffs. After reviewing the SQF code some more, it looks like SQF does not require training documentation on every single SOP or task that an employee performs. It seems to me that it implies that records are required for general duties related to CQP monitoring and FQP-related material.
So here are some questions I'd like to pose for advice from everyone:
-How should I handle retroactively signing off veteran employee's training on their duties? Everyone is performing well and is obviously proficient (we conduct proficiency testing). Should the date of signoff be their hire date?
-Does SQF require training records for -all- SOPs that a company has written? For instance, we have an SOP on how to test protein using our benchtop equipment. We also have an SOP for -when- to test protein depending on the product. Protein testing is a CQP, so naturally the SOP for how to test protein requires documentation. But the SOP related to when in the process protein testing is required, would this require documentation as well? Additionally, what about non-testing procedures, like how to clean a pH meter, or what to do when finished goods packaging material is expired?\
Apologies if this belongs in the Training & Documentations subforum. As I'm specifically asking about SQF, I figured I'd post here! If moderators disagree, please feel free to move my topic to the appropriate subforum.