Has anyone developed a Virtual Audit program for your supplier or co-manufacturer since travel is limited due to pandemic? If so how successful was it and how did you set it up? Did you do document review and a walk through?
Yes we have been doing virtual audits since Mar 2020 since the pandemic struck.
At the beginning it’s a paradigm shift for our suppliers. Some accepted ( 40%) rest outright rejected .
It’s a challenge to do a virtual audit due to limitations such as :
1. Patchy Wi-Fi’s. Or 4G connections
2. Not every supplier was open to provide a virtual tour
3. For the few who did agree for virtual tour of factory requested for an Non-Disclosure Agreement be signed.
4. In the absence of virtual tour or otherwise we requested for site photos including key processing equipment.
5. For all virtual audits we requested for critical documentation to be sent in advance of the audit day so that as an auditor we could be relatively well prepared.
6. If the audits is in a foreign language then the time to complete such an audit is even longer as a translator would be involved.
Virtual audits have limitations . It’s nothing like doing an On-Site audit where as an auditor you can use all your sensory & the in-person interactions are better way to make a thorough assessment.
Best of luck in your efforts.
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