How should we validate test pieces used to monitor our CCP of metal detection?

Hi

 

I was wondering if someone knows how  we should validate the test pieces we use to monitor our CCP of metal detection. I working in a packaging company that works with product such as peanuts, nuts, jellys, sweets, sugar, chocolates, etc. This validation is not documented and an auditor requested. Our metal detectors are vertical systems and we use drop-balls for testing.

 

Also, how we can set a critical limit in metal detectors?

 

Thanks

Hi

 

I was wondering if someone knows how  we should validate the test pieces we use to monitor our CCP of metal detection. I working in a packaging company that works with product such as peanuts, nuts, jellys, sweets, sugar, chocolates, etc. This validation is not documented and an auditor requested. Our metal detectors are vertical systems and we use drop-balls for testing.

 

Also, how we can set a critical limit in metal detectors?

 

Thanks

I asume you refer to ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless steel pieces.

 

Test pieces should come with a Certificate as to composition and size.

We have this test pieces and the external certification, but the auditor ask for how we do the internal validation of this pieces.

We have this test pieces and the external certification, but the auditor ask for how we do the internal validation of this pieces.

Can you post the specific query as per the auditor's report ?

 

If the certificate is appropriately presented, eg contains mention of traceability to recognized standard, etc then I suspect that some kind of a communication error has occurred. The typical queries relate to routine calibration of the machine and validation of the sensitivity for detection

I asume you refer to ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless steel pieces.

 

Test pieces should come with a Certificate as to composition and size.

 

Are these the certificates valid indefinitely or do they have validity period?

Are these the certificates valid indefinitely or do they have validity period?

example attached -

 

CoC - 0.30mmFE-70325.pdf   30.97KB   122 downloads

 

an extended discussion here -

 

https://www.ifsqn.co...ces/#entry66109

 

@nidiagonzc - would be possible to have the size calibrated by a 3rd Party however the ball is usually encapsulated so destruction involved. I have never had an auditor query a Certificate.

 

Regarding critical limit, there are many threads here on this topic. The answer is typically, using a standard set-up/alignment, the minimum size test piece of given composition which will be consistently detected/rejected by machine for a given food matrix. Also known as the Sensitivity.

example attached -

 

CoC - 0.30mmFE-70325.pdf

 

an extended discussion here -

 

https://www.ifsqn.co...ces/#entry66109

 

@nidiagonzc - would be possible to have the size calibrated by a 3rd Party however the ball is usually encapsulated so destruction involved. I have never had an auditor query a Certificate.

 

Regarding critical limit, there are many threads here on this topic. The answer is typically, using a standard set-up/alignment, the minimum size test piece of given composition which will be consistently detected/rejected by machine for a given food matrix. Also known as the Sensitivity.

 

We have got a certificate for every test piece, but the auditor said how we are sure are effective for our metal detectors. We showed all our certifications (for tests pieces) and verification of metal detectors (for external company every six months). 

We have got a certificate for every test piece, but the auditor said how we are sure are effective for our metal detectors. We showed all our certifications (for tests pieces) and verification of metal detectors (for external company every six months). 

I suggest you contact the auditor and ask him/her what they meant by "effective".

 

Did you get a NC ?

What are the sizes of your test pieces?

 

I think what the auditor is getting at is "why did you choose these sizes?"

 

Let's say you use 3mm Fe, 3mm non-Fe and 4mm S/S. Have you tested your MD with 2, 2, 3? Does it reliably detect those sizes? If so, you should use 2, 2, and 3.

If not, you should have a document that states  that you have tested the sensitivity of your MD with various test piece sizes and X, Y and Z size are always detected, thus this is why we use this size.

 

Personally, I think the auditor is picking nits, but it's easy enough to solve this.

 

Marshall

What are the sizes of your test pieces?

 

I think what the auditor is getting at is "why did you choose these sizes?"

 

Let's say you use 3mm Fe, 3mm non-Fe and 4mm S/S. Have you tested your MD with 2, 2, 3? Does it reliably detect those sizes? If so, you should use 2, 2, and 3.

If not, you should have a document that states  that you have tested the sensitivity of your MD with various test piece sizes and X, Y and Z size are always detected, thus this is why we use this size.

 

Personally, I think the auditor is picking nits, but it's easy enough to solve this.

 

Marshall

Note that there was also a query regarding critical limit.

And yes, I agree with yr conclusion.

Or, possibly, a communication problem.

Charles,

Well the Critical Limit would be whatever the MD is capable of detecting.

 

Marshall

Charles,

Well the Critical Limit would be whatever the MD is capable of detecting.

 

Marshall

 

See Posts 4, 6. 8

 

@ nidiagonzc ??

Our pieces are 1.5 ferrous, 2.0 Non-Ferrous and 2.5 SS. Unfortunately, we haven't got any document that Talk about our metal detector is capable to detect this pieces. So the auditor ask about how we now these pieces is capable to detect.

I contact the auditor as to be honest I think is enough with certification of external validacion, bit he said companies use to do validation of test pieces (example make 20 passes of each piece and if there is not rejections then this pieces are suitable for our MD), and have that document. Did someone have experience with this in the past?

Thanks to all for your comments

Our pieces are 1.5 ferrous, 2.0 Non-Ferrous and 2.5 SS. Unfortunately, we haven't got any document that Talk about our metal detector is capable to detect this pieces. So the auditor ask about how we now these pieces is capable to detect.

I contact the auditor as to be honest I think is enough with certification of external validacion, bit he said companies use to do validation of test pieces (example make 20 passes of each piece and if there is not rejections then this pieces are suitable for our MD), and have that document. Did someone have experience with this in the past?

Thanks to all for your comments

It sounds like you have not done any validation of the MD sensitivity which is typically a part of yr MD's critical limit.

If so, it's absolutely logical  that the auditor had a problem since validation of critical limits is a basic requirement of every food standard.

Any idea where I can find information about it? Or a procedure to do it?

We still do MD internal validation every year, including external calibration/verification and daily monitoring every hour during production. If the MD breaks down and requires external services, MD validation is carried out right after the repair before use in production.

 

Our MD validation is done by the following:

1. Passing all test pieces (we have 2, 2.5 & 3mm) multiple times on the MD in different locations (left, right, centre), ensuring that each pass of test piece is rejected

2. Passing different finished products we produced (w/ different sizes, w/ diff components) multiple times with the test pieces on multiple locations (left, centre, right), ensuring that each pass of finished products with test piece is rejected

3. Passing different metal objects (rejected by MD throughout the years) on the different finished products, placing on varying locations in the product (top, bottom, left, right), ensuring that each metal object is rejected.

 

Ours maybe a bit excessive, but this works for us and every auditor have accepted this MD validation without question.

We still do MD internal validation every year, including external calibration/verification and daily monitoring every hour during production. If the MD breaks down and requires external services, MD validation is carried out right after the repair before use in production.

 

Our MD validation is done by the following:

1. Passing all test pieces (we have 2, 2.5 & 3mm) multiple times on the MD in different locations (left, right, centre), ensuring that each pass of test piece is rejected

2. Passing different finished products we produced (w/ different sizes, w/ diff components) multiple times with the test pieces on multiple locations (left, centre, right), ensuring that each pass of finished products with test piece is rejected

3. Passing different metal objects (rejected by MD throughout the years) on the different finished products, placing on varying locations in the product (top, bottom, left, right), ensuring that each metal object is rejected.

 

Ours maybe a bit excessive, but this works for us and every auditor have accepted this MD validation without question.

Strictly there is a further element to the above but SQF fortunately appear oblivious to this. See -

 

https://techni-k.co....ion-validation/

Thank you all so much for your help🙂