7 replies to this topic

[higherconsultingus]

Hello, Are there any programs that takes up so much of your time and would like someone else to do it? For example, maintaining the Supplier Approval Program is a job on its own...requesting/retrieving technical documents, checking in with the quality of raw materials, etc. 

[TimG]

I assume you're looking for ideas on inroads for consulting?

The following are areas I've found in the past to take up inordinate amounts of time.

• Supplier Approvals (Including Contractors)
• Chemical Control/Approved Chemicals (Really almost anything to do with Maintenance-Food safety, those guys hardly ever have the time to do it correctly)
• Customer Questionnaires (My customers inflicting their supplier approval procedures on me)
• Training
• Annual Document Review (not so much the review but the process of making sure EVERYONE who needs to review has done so and it's all documented to meet GFSI requirements)
• Document Management (Talking to other quality people, this can be hit or miss. It's always been a big miss for me..)
• Record Review (Hey Supervisor C, I stayed 2 hours late to talk to you. Your shift had 20% of their records turned in last week missing inputs, etc. No, the CCP records are not the only thing that matters...)

[The Food Scientist]

Ahh yes the Approved Supplier Program is a nightmare. If you surf around the forums, you'll see most of my questions are supplier related. LOL 

 

BUT it's not only me that works on it, the purchasing manager helps. She should always be monitoring and maintaining it. I am "on top of it" , I made sure she does it all correctly in regards to Laws, Regulations and SQF Standard. So it's us too. Production Manager has a little. It depends on the size of your company. 

 

Also train them. I had to train this purchasing manager on HACCP and many supplier related training, in addition to SQF Code. That way when you are not there, they can do a little.

 

What REALLY takes up my time, is

 

1. keeping up with documentations, paperwork and all those forms. Filing, making sure they fill out properly, sign and review! And then hunting down who did not fill out properly and retraining/disciplining. 

2. LABEL REVIEWS! Ugh, printing company always has those minor errors, that can be major errors in customer's eyes. It is not easy staying on top of them! 

 

I think cross training is SUPER important, and if your company is willing, hire an assistant or any QA techs (which I need to do soon).

[jperri]

Hello,

 

I feel like this question would depend on the size of the company.

 

For us, we are a very small company so our SQF programs are easily managed by one person (which is myself). However, if I had the opportunity to pass programs on to someone else I would have to say our GMP and training programs would take up most of my time.

 

This is primarily because implementing GMPs is a tug and pull effort (especially since we are new to SQF). These programs require constant monitoring, updating and adapting to find out what works and what doesn't and constant reminders and refresher training until the employees remember!!

 

Jenna

Edited by jperri, 21 February 2020 - 05:37 PM.

[QAGB]

Ahh yes the Approved Supplier Program is a nightmare. If you surf around the forums, you'll see most of my questions are supplier related. LOL 

 

BUT it's not only me that works on it, the purchasing manager helps. She should always be monitoring and maintaining it. I am "on top of it" , I made sure she does it all correctly in regards to Laws, Regulations and SQF Standard. So it's us too. Production Manager has a little. It depends on the size of your company. 

 

Also train them. I had to train this purchasing manager on HACCP and many supplier related training, in addition to SQF Code. That way when you are not there, they can do a little.

 

What REALLY takes up my time, is

 

1. keeping up with documentations, paperwork and all those forms. Filing, making sure they fill out properly, sign and review! And then hunting down who did not fill out properly and retraining/disciplining. 

2. LABEL REVIEWS! Ugh, printing company always has those minor errors, that can be major errors in customer's eyes. It is not easy staying on top of them! 

 

I think cross training is SUPER important, and if your company is willing, hire an assistant or any QA techs (which I need to do soon).

 

 

Wow - I feel like your points #1 and #2 came from my own thought bubbles. I HATED having to review 3 billion documents a day, and hunting people down when they didn't fill out the documents right. I also used to try and keep a lot of records electronically stored, so having to scan everything in and file it all away was a pain.

 

Also hated label reviews, especially after the FDA decided they wanted to revise the nutritional panel. I was responsible for all of the nutritional labeling - so that was always a drag. 

[crystalQC]

I was first hired as the Quality assistant, doing a ton of supplier paperwork (mostly certifications), CCP verifications in producction, and making the nutrition labels. Occasionally inspecting incoming shipments and pre-production samples. The original quality manager did more executive tasks, like conducting internal audits, consulting on supplier approvals, etc.

Now, that my manager has retired, I'll be taking on those tasks and much more, so I wish there was help to do the paperwork.

[Charles.C]

Hello, Are there any programs that takes up so much of your time and would like someone else to do it? For example, maintaining the Supplier Approval Program is a job on its own...requesting/retrieving technical documents, checking in with the quality of raw materials, etc. 

 

Controlling "Controlled Documents"  without software.

[QAGB]

I was first hired as the Quality assistant, doing a ton of supplier paperwork (mostly certifications), CCP verifications in producction, and making the nutrition labels. Occasionally inspecting incoming shipments and pre-production samples. The original quality manager did more executive tasks, like conducting internal audits, consulting on supplier approvals, etc.

Now, that my manager has retired, I'll be taking on those tasks and much more, so I wish there was help to do the paperwork.

 

Why aren't you getting a replacement for the Quality Assistant role?