I'm needing some guidance about our vendor approval program.
I am the QAM at a mid-size dry goods packaging facility. We handle products from drinks, soups, baking, seasoning mixes, and and literally anything in between. We very rarely turn down the opportunity to package something within our capabilities.
My question revolves around vendor approval. We utilize many distribution centers/companies (DCs) because of the very wide array of raw materials we receive in. Its not unusual to receive in 10LB of 30+ different flavors weekly, in addition to spices, vegetables, processing aids, flours etc. Therefore we mostly go through large distribution companies who can supply a vast array of products on one shipment.
I was under the impression that our purchasing department required the DCs not only be approved as a supplier with GFSI certification (and all other required materials), but I have written into our program (and could have sworn we had gone over this) that they also asked for the GFSI and required materials for each company that the DC utilizes for products shipped to us.
I've been told no, that the GFSI stretches to the suppliers the DC utilizes (which I don't believe it does), and that it would take a full extra employee to request this information (that I don't doubt).
Am I correct that we should be going one step further. I've had auditors ream me before saying that GFIS is never good enough, and even a thorough investigation of any supplier isn't good enough and we always have to dig deeper.
Do I need to push for this further step, or does the DC being GFSI and an approved vendor also mean that the companies that they pull from are by extension approved.
Any input would be super helpful.
Thanks!!