Preparing for our upcoming SQF site audit
Hi Everyone, So my facility is called global freezer and we are under storage and distribution, we are doing module 2, and 12. Our site audit is soon very soon, now on oct 28th and well of course we are nervous but confident. We just got approved from our desk audit and we have the okay for the auditor to come in and start the site audit. I just really hope we do good. This is our first year and literally the practitioner and I created the SOP from scratch . We've lost thousands of hair and have no more memory lol but of course with every ones help on this website. Every question I had of anything about SQF you all had the perfect answer. I appreciate it. Now my main question I what do you suggest for when the auditor comes to the facility ? Its just my practitioner is worried he will ask hard questions and won't know how to answer back. Or maybe he is taking it to hard on him. Thank you everyone for the help. and I will keep you posted with our score.
If you have put in so many hours in preparation, ya'll are familiar with the plan....so take confidence in the plan. I am always slow to answer the auditor. I keep an even pace when answering. If I am unsure of a question being asked, I ask to clarify. On several occasions, I have excused myself to seek the answer. I may go to another member of the Food Safety team who is not currently sitting in the audit. Its all fine as long as you have been thorough in your program. I am more than willing to defend our program and challenge questions I think are not part of the scope or are being misconstrued.
I know its easier said than done but relax. Let the plan and all the policies be the answer.
The thing with answering auditors, is answer what they asked and that's it. Don't add more info he hasn't asked about. It could open a can of worms. Also if you are not sure about a question you can have them explain it again, if you still do not know simply say I am not sure I can ask someone who knows that answer. Always also show documentation they request. Don't show or talk too much. Best of luck to you at the audit! :)
Edit: Also make sure you have the code in front of you during the audit. As they go through it one by one you could be on the same track. Some auditors would ask me for stuff not even required by the code! I would go like "I can't see it here, show me!".
Also here are guidance docs to help you with the audit:
I will suggest this tips that helped me during the audits, to me you can have 2 type of auditors, the one that goes by the code (books & policies) and the one that goes by the facts (meaning goes directly to the floor and do interview and ask Q).
For the first one is the one you can be most prepare for, have 3 copies of your 2.2.2.2 Doc Ctrol Register over the table (one for you, one for the auditor and one for the practitioner), procure to have all the team members attending the opening meeting to show management commitment, during the audit if you have doubts about any specific area call for support do not try to git all the answers quickly (for example maintenance personnel for PM program or IC to explain how they run recalls, or to explain records, etc), ensure everyone know the site is undergoing a food safety audit. Provide only the document the auditor asked for, not more, not less, and at the end if you went over all this previously then you know your program and you will be just fine. Good luck in you first audit,(they say it's the easy one since you have to show that you have your system up and running, the 2nd year it will be harder since you have to show that you keep it the system running and you are procuring improvements).
Thank you everyone. Even tho my practitioner here is stressed out. I am confident we both are. I really appreciate everyones reply and it gave me more effort to be strong and show the auditor im ready. So many good tips. I will do as you all recommend. One more time thank you . :clap: :whistle:
As a former SQF Auditor .... answer the question, do not volunteer extra.
Do not banter wtih the Auditor - God help you if you say "to be honest with you" at any point or we do that but we don't record it, etc.
The SQF Practitioner can be gig'd for lack of knowledge.
Get your p's and q's in order and you'll be fine.
And please, he/she is not regulatory, it's ok to bring a lunch in, have some coffee and danish or something at the opening meeting.