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Trader Joe's New Customer Audits

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Jeffrey Ort

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Posted 08 November 2018 - 12:31 PM

Hi Community,

 

Has anyone been through the new audit scheme that Trader Joe's released this June?

Has anyone completed the audit in the time provided?

Has it included a surveillance auditor?

 

We are in the process of day 3 for our inspection, target closeout day, and would like to hear from the community on other experiences.

 

Jeff



chrcia

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Posted 08 November 2018 - 08:28 PM

Following this thread



mgourley

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Posted 08 November 2018 - 10:59 PM

No, but we are pitching Trader Joe's. If the supplier expectation manual/audit format is not proprietary, could you post it here?

 

Marshall



bakeryscience

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Posted 09 November 2018 - 07:27 PM

I found this on their website: https://www.traderjo...or-requirements



Jeffrey Ort

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Posted 11 November 2018 - 09:54 PM

We are currently unable to post the audit scheme. I would like to share some of the experience, at least.

The audit was scheduled for 3 days 9.5 hrs/day, this is not enough time for the completion of the expectations of the depth of detail that is being requested. We only completed 54% of the audit at the close on day 3. We had a surveillance auditor (SA) that was to review our auditor to certify his ability to audit to the scheme.

The initial expectations from the opening meeting was that there would not be any input from the SA, this was not the case. As the audit progressed, our auditor would ask for x quantity of document and the SA would tell him to extend it further, 2 weeks became 3 months, 3 months became 1 year.

This continued throughout the audit and accelerated to the SA providing interpretations to our auditor for the scheme. There were even points where the SA directly asked us for information, and then shared it with the auditor, with explaining to the auditor how to answer the question. On the other hand, when we asked for clarification, we were told to reach out to TJ for information.

As we are a ready to eat product, we had a swabbing performed by the auditor and the SA. The SA provided guidance and even targeted sites for the swabbing.

 

We feel that this was not an audit, but a fact finding mission and training session.  We will be responsible for the cost of the audit, auditors expenses for the audit, additional expenses on our end to support our team.

The audit scheme is evolving since the release in June (first release was v1 the current was v11 released 10/9/18), there have been revisions, some just verbiage, some level of non conformance in the scheme and other issues "corrected". There is a minor amount of interpretation provided to the auditor, but none to the auditee's.

On the whole, we felt the auditor was qualified to run an audit, but was not allowed by the Surveillance Auditor who was part of the consultant team to Trader Joes to assist in writing the scheme. 

FYI,  there was no NC report provided at the end of the audit, only discussion, and we should receive the completed report in 20-30 days.



SQFconsultant

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Posted 12 November 2018 - 01:46 AM

So much for the big elephant in the corner that is told not to say anything and then all of sudden begins raising it's trunk.

 

Wish I had been there.


All the Best,

 

All Rights Reserved,

Without Prejudice,

Glenn Oster.

Glenn Oster Consulting, LLC -

SQF System Development | Internal Auditor Training | eConsultant

Martha's Vineyard Island, MA - Restored Republic

http://www.GCEMVI.XYZ

http://www.GlennOster.com

 


Jeffrey Ort

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Posted 12 November 2018 - 01:52 AM

Hi Glenn,
Thanks, it was not as it was supposed to be! The audit was not transparent either!



Jeffrey Ort

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Posted 12 November 2018 - 05:33 PM

No, but we are pitching Trader Joe's. If the supplier expectation manual/audit format is not proprietary, could you post it here?

 

Marshall

Hi, If you are pitching Trader Joe's, you should ask for the vendor requirements, and specifically request the audit scheme. If you are set up in TJ electronic portal (GORP) the information is available. 



KWhelan

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Posted 09 October 2019 - 02:27 PM

Hi all,

 

I recently took over as the Food Safety Coordinator for our company (week 3). The position has been vacant for about 9 months. I was just given the log in for TJ's GORP and I found the letter describing the new audit program. We've been submitting our 3rd party GMP audit and it appears to be accepted? Letter states SAI would contact to schedule. We've been a producer for them for some time and have not been directly contacted about it. Any other info about this would be greatly appreciated.



kevinbyrne

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Posted 16 October 2019 - 10:27 AM

Hi all,

I recently took over as the Food Safety Coordinator for our company (week 3). The position has been vacant for about 9 months. I was just given the log in for TJ's GORP and I found the letter describing the new audit program. We've been submitting our 3rd party GMP audit and it appears to be accepted? Letter states SAI would contact to schedule. We've been a producer for them for some time and have not been directly contacted about it. Any other info about this would be greatly appreciated.



kevinbyrne

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Posted 16 October 2019 - 10:28 AM

KWhelan - DM me (if possible - I’m using my phone for this, so I’m not sure if you can); I can give you some tips.



KWhelan

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Posted 18 October 2019 - 01:21 PM

KWhelan - DM me (if possible - I’m using my phone for this, so I’m not sure if you can); I can give you some tips.

Hey kevinbyrne, I don't see a method for DM on the site.



kevinbyrne

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Posted 18 October 2019 - 06:10 PM

KWhelan,

 

You can email me:  xxxx


Edited by Charles.C, 19 October 2019 - 09:45 PM.
email removed


kevinbyrne

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Posted 22 October 2019 - 11:11 PM

KWhelan - I had to pick up a membership for DMing; looks like you'll have to do the same...





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