Supplier Corrective Action (SCAR)
Hello,
I am revamping our Supplier SCAR process. I am wondering how other food/beverage companies document their Supplier Corrective Action responses and what triggers are used to require a SCAR from suppliers. Any examples would be greatly appreciated.
Background - Herbal Tea and Spice Blending Company, BRC Food Safety standard.
Thank you!
The Non-conformance Process should include the scope of supplier non-conformance wherein your supplier shall provide documented corrective action plan to prevent or minimize the re-occurrence of the problem.
Typically the SCAR is initiated based on non-conformances with your specifications and contracts as well as shipment conditions. You may also find foreign material once you begin use.
- Specifications & Contract Examples
- COA Review - a quality or food safety specification is missing or out of range on COA.
- Asked for no mixed pallets in the contract but received pallets with mixed lots and products
- Asked for your unique material number to be on the label but its missing (i.e. Supplier's Material Number is A123456 but the Material number in your system is 90614000604).
- Shipment Conditions
- Hole in trailer and ingredients showed up wet
- Freezer unit not working and ingredients showed up out of temperature range
- Packages were dirty - foot prints, excess dust, pest activity
- Damaged pallets
You may also want to have different levels of SCARs.
A minor is more of an FYI - hey we noticed this, we're taking in all the product, but correct for next time.
A major is when you want to reject something from a supplier
A critical is when it caused a major food safety issue (loss of product because of foreign material or maybe it led to a recall)
The actual SCAR should ask the supplier to identify root cause and corrective action, the quantity and cost of material affected, and a disposition for what you did with that material (sent back, threw away, released).