3 replies to this topic

[macjim4u]

Hello group. We are plastic (injection molding) packaging industry supplying to various clients in food insustry and pharma industry. We manufactured various sizes of plastic pails and covers. We are BRC certified since last 6 years and its my second year working as Quality Manager here. We recently completed our ISSUE6 audit with grade A. Questions : We only store finished goods in our warehouse. Our sister company has plant about 20 km away from us but they are in to metal manufacturing. They are not certified for any standards. My plant manager asked me if our sister plant can start storing their product in our warehouse. Which also means at times there will be handling of metal drums in our premises on warehouse side. I am not sure whether standard would allow this or not. Standard mainly focus on the product we manufactured and stored. I am thinking this might fall under another level of operation and not part of our scope. Please share your opinions and suggestions. Thank you, Arpit 

[pHruit]

Will you be selling the metal goods through your business, or just storing them?

The former would be handled via the Traded Goods elements - section 7 of the standard.

Otherwise they'd not be in your scope as they're not manufactured. I'd discuss this with your certification body to see how they want to handle it, as I think that a formal exclusion to the scope would normally only apply for product you're actually manufacturing (see "1.6.2 Exclusions" on page 70). Nonetheless they may feel that an exclusion for storage of other product is necessary.

[macjim4u]

Thank you for your response.

We are only storing it and not selling. it is total responsibility of our sister company.

I will try to connect with certification body as well to get their insight.

[beautiophile]

Appendix 3:

However, in some exceptional circumstances more than one site may be included under a single certification.

Audits may cover multiple site addresses where all of the following rules apply:

- all sites are under the same organisation ownership

- all sites are operated against the same documented quality management system

- sites manufacture product which is part of the same manufacturing process

- the sites solely supply the other sites with no additional customers

- the sites are no more than 30 miles/50 km apart.

 

So I think you can add that warehouse into the current certificate by defining a more specific scope. Just check your CB's confirmation.

And there'd be some new problem to consider such as remote controlling, hygiene in transportation, training personnel, traceability, etc. that experienced auditors can point out.

Edited by beautiophile, 05 February 2021 - 02:34 AM.