Jump to content

  • Quick Navigation
Photo

Ways to convince management to purchase food safety software

Share this

  • You cannot start a new topic
  • Please log in to reply
4 replies to this topic
- - - - -

jchan37

    Grade - Active

  • IFSQN Active
  • 13 posts
  • 0 thanks
0
Neutral

  • Earth
    Earth

Posted 29 August 2022 - 08:28 PM

Hi Everyone,

 

We are a middle-large size company which does many things manually and looking to implement a food safety software system for supplier management (documents, certificates, scorecard, complaints etc).

 

The management team wants us to provide the reasons why it would be beneficial.  I was hoping to get some ideas from everyone on the reasons to help support our reasoning to go with a software.

 

Thank you!

 

JB



jfrey123

    Grade - PIFSQN

  • IFSQN Principal
  • 601 posts
  • 173 thanks
293
Excellent

  • United States
    United States
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Sparks, NV

Posted 29 August 2022 - 09:49 PM

The best software is one that lets you simplify other tasks.  Take inventory management for example: most companies use some software to keep track of inventory, and it flows with accounting to track receiving and shipping and makes their lives easier between the production, shipping, warehousing and accounting departments.

 

Choosing a QA software that can help simplify your own QA process is a hard sell on it's own.  But if you can tie a benefit to another department, and show how it will improve your process while also improving your QA programs, then it becomes an easier sell.



Brothbro

    Grade - SIFSQN

  • IFSQN Senior
  • 350 posts
  • 115 thanks
180
Excellent

  • United States
    United States
  • Gender:Male
  • Interests:Aimlessly browsing the internet

Posted 29 August 2022 - 11:27 PM

For larger companies, proprietary software has the benefit of standardizing submissions across your firm. Think of the benefits of using template-based forms, but take it one step further. If you're doing a lot of regulatory paperwork manually now, you likely have the issue of different people submitting data/documentation/content in different ways. A software suite tailored to managing these documents may help to ensure all your teams are performing certain tasks the same way. 

 

For example, some of these systems may flag suppliers that don't have completed verification questionnaires on file. Perhaps it could even notify your teams when a supplier hasn't been verified/audited for a certain amount of time. 

 

But at the end of the day, these software suites don't magically do everything for you. It's a "get out what you put in" type of scenario. You need a trained and motivated team to get a lot out of it. If trial versions of these systems exist, I'd strongly suggest trying before you buy.



MDaleDDF

    Grade - PIFSQN

  • IFSQN Principal
  • 507 posts
  • 209 thanks
393
Excellent

  • United States
    United States
  • Gender:Male

Posted 30 August 2022 - 12:40 PM

I guess it depends on your operation.   We have an MRP, but nothing safety based, and I don't think we need it here.

I guess the point is:   If you have to come ask us, would it really help you?   Why do you want/think you need it?



Marloes

    Grade - SIFSQN

  • IFSQN Senior
  • 284 posts
  • 76 thanks
80
Excellent

  • Earth
    Earth
  • Gender:Female

Posted 30 August 2022 - 01:01 PM

Convincing management is always about saving or making money.
Review which needs your company has, where is it loosing time/efficiency and how can a/this system improve that?

Put a number on it. How many hours /errors / lost First Time Right are you going to save?
What is the return on investment of your implementation?
You don't want a management software because it is part of GFSI, you want it because it helps improve the business. Explain to them how it will improve.
It would be very helpfull to work with your production manager. Get his input, needs and support.

 

Also don't forget to make it clear to management what kind of initial investment you will need in terms of money, time, people and perhaps training. But always pair this with a clear return on investment (how long will it take for these initial investments to pay off).

 

Good luck!





Share this

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users