SQF 2.4.5 Non-Conforming Product or Equipment
Hi all, I had a question regarding the purpose of 2.4.5 Non-Conforming Product. Is this section intended to keep documentation of any incident? If a product does not meet spec, I would use this procedure. If a co-man sent a box with a different date, same product, on pallet, would i use this procedure?? Is this procedure a catch all for any form of issue whether food safety or errors?? Thanks!
Your procedure should detail identification of non-conformities from outside sources and the steps you take to address it. Some things that come to mind would be opening a supplier non-conformance record, supplier corrective action record (if multiple repeats), etc.
Ideally your procedure would identify those outside sources where non-conforming product could be introduced
1. Identify sources
2. Steps to address
- SCAR/SNCR
- Disposition of product (pick up by co-man)
- Records of disposition, etc.
- Responsible persons for overseeing this process
However you want it to look should be fine as long as there is a process to identify, dispose, and record the non-conforming products from external sources
Yes I would apply the same principles to both issues so you dont have to create two separate processes that in most cases would look the same. You could add a section in the procedure where it is evaluated whether it is a food safety hazard or general quality defect. A food safety hazard might require more attention, urgency, and greater collaboration from team members to be resolved quicker
in my opinion it is for food safety issues. if the error could result in a food safety issue it would also apply as well.
If the different date is not on the shipping paperwork / there is or could be a possible tracability issue or a food security risk, then I would say it could apply.
don't forget about 2.5.3 corrective and preventative actions for deviations from food safety requirements.
I agree with Jdpaul above. Also I just wanted to note that in the changes to ed. 9 of SQF code, non-conforming equipment was moved to 11.1.7 Equipment and Utensils. Essentially it would have the same process as non-conforming product though, in a sense that it triggers a QA hold and investigation whatever the case may.