Auditing of Suppliers

Hey Everyone- Needing some guidance on this if possible. 

I work for a Cold Storage facility, storing mostly pork, beef, and poultry. We also co-pack and repackage products from combos to boxes or vice versa. We obviously use a lot of corrugated boxes, poly bags, straps, etc. 

My question is should I be conducting in-person audits at some of these suppliers? Visiting their facility to make sure they are up to code and providing what they say they are providing? 

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you in advance.  

Depends on what GFSI scheme you're under. If it doesn't have a specific requirement for in-person audit of your suppliers, then obtaining information proving proper control of their FSMS would be sufficient. That would be Letter of Guarantee, GFSI or 3rd party audit certificate, other certifications, etc.

Assuming SQF, yes - either you do it, an audit company you pay does it or you accept a recent audit from the target.

We are SQF certified.  But even before we did the same thing.  We require a Letter of Guarantee current within the last 2 years, and a 3rd party audit from FSSC, BRG, SQF, ISO.  If they do not have a 3rd party audit we require proof of recall program, food defense plan, allergen control plan and GMP program.  Either way, all still have to provide letter of guarantee and COCs/COAs.  If they do not have the 3rd party audit or alternative, and we still want to try to keep them as a supplier we do a 3rd party audit ourselves.  If these things are not passed we find another supplier.  We also keep track with the fda website and make sure our suppliers do not have any warning letters in the last 2 years.  All this would depend on your approved supplier program.  This is our approved supplier program.