Nervous about upcoming SQF Fundamentals audit

Hello all, new to the forums. We are going through our SQF Fundamentals Audit at the end of the month and I'm starting to get overly anxious on the date. I have been with my company for 5 months and had to build the whole system from scratch. I have gone through the checklist on the SQFI website and have recorded necessary evidence. But, I am afraid that It's not enough. Is 5 months to short of time to build this whole system? I should add that we are a very small company (only 8 employees) and I do shoulder all responsibility in accordance with Quality and SQF Practitioner. Any guidance on how to be best prepared is welcome! Thank you in advance!

It is natural to get anxious, happens to all of us.

I would recommend to go through the standard again, break it down clause by clause and audit the system as if you are the SQF auditor yourself (as a Gap assessment).

You can also go through the forums here for some common audit issues.

I believe SQF has a gap assessment checklist on their website that will also be helpful

In answer to the first question, yes, it is a short period of time. 

I would at this point do a gap analysis and as others have mentioned you should be able to find the needed components on the SQFI website.

Or you could have an SQF Consultant conduct on onsite or off-site remote analysis.

I went through my first Fundamentals audit in December 2019 (Basic) and my second one in November 2020 (Intermediate).  My facility has 4 employees, it was the smallest our auditor has ever been too.  It took me about a year to build our system from scratch.

Being nervous is completely normal, I didn't sleep for the week leading up to my audits.  I felt prepared because I'd gone through the code, line by line, about 3 times, but was also worried that I was still missing something because I didn't know what to expect.  Feel free to private message me with questions you have.

Spidey, I am very new to the forums and I am not sure how to private message you... :roflmao:

I would say just about what everyone else has stated.  Use the GAP tool and ask yourself how can I prove to an outsider that we meet this clause.   if you cant answer that question, than that clause may need more work.   

Spidey, I am very new to the forums and I am not sure how to private message you... :roflmao:

Hi Chadwick,

Sorry but the pm system is enabled after around 20+ posts.

Please feel free to post any further queries. That's what the Forum is for. We all started somewhere.  :smile:

PS - I noted some recommendations re-SQF checklist. OP does state that this done already. ?

Based on previous threads, the "Internal audit" aspect can often be one, (1st) audit  "focus", regardless of whether BRC, SQF etc?

I've been playing in bands since I was a teenager, and I still get nervous every time before I hit the stage.  

But nowhere near as nervous as the days leading up to an audit, lol.  That's normal.

Good luck!   Follow the advice of the folks on here, they're a wealth of knowledge.  And keep in mind inspectors are not there to ding you and throw a wrench in your place.   They're here to help do it better and safer.  I also started our system from nothing, and it took a long time and a few years of mnc's before I really got dialed in.   And they still find something every year, it's their job.   Just display you're committed to living the system every day, and they'll be cool with you.

You got this!  Go get um.

Day #2 of HACCP classes for Processors and it opened a whole can of worms. Feels like I'm chasing a pipe dream to get this certification....

Day #2 of HACCP classes for Processors and it opened a whole can of worms. Feels like I'm chasing a pipe dream to get this certification....

If your facility has never attempted an SQF certification before, you can turn your initial certification audit into a pre-assessment audit if it looks like you're going to fail.  This will give you a more complete gap analysis and prevent you from having a failed audit on the record.

Day #2 of HACCP classes for Processors and it opened a whole can of worms. Feels like I'm chasing a pipe dream to get this certification....

I not only felt the same way, but I was told right to my face by others in the industry:  "You'll never get it."    

You'll get it.   Just be patient, one problem at a time.  

Just my two cents, when the auditor arrives:

• DO Be open and honest with the auditor about
  • your experience level
  • the steps you went through to create and implement your program (show your completed checklist to the auditor, will help lend legitimacy to your claim of hard work)
  • your willingness to learn from her/him and improve the program
• DON'T
  • Act like you know it all
  • Give off the vibe your FSP is bullet proof (it's not)
  • Not be familiar with your FSP documents or storage locations

You are building a relationship with the auditing body, and quite frankly you are paying them to gauge your FSP and help you improve. I'm not saying don't be prepared, just know there is a tipping point where prep starts to give minimal gains for time spent. This is especially the case if you've already gone through the checklist.