7 replies to this topic

[packman156]

I'm trying to set up a BRC audit.  I've signed up with an auditing firm. I'm setting one up for around September 15, 2024 and they say they only have one auditor available that's about 15 days away from my requested audit date.  Is this typical?  I would think you get a choice of auditor and date.  Just wondering.  Also, is it typical to get the same auditor the next year? 

Edited by packman156, 18 December 2023 - 05:45 PM.

[Scampi]

Consider yourself lucky that you had the ability to request anything

It doesn't generally work that way

 

Step 1---send in black out dates

 

Step 2  see if those are approved

 

Step 3 wait to be issued an audit date

 

That's the flow that is supposed to be followed

[olenazh]

That would depend on the CB: with ours, we're usually given a several dates to book. However, the auditor - no. RE: the same auditor next year - yes, we've had that, usually same auditor for 3-year period, then - another one.

[SQFconsultant]

I'm trying to set up a BRC audit.  I've signed up with an auditing firm. I'm setting one up for around September 15, 2024 and they say they only have one auditor available that's about 15 days away from my requested audit date.  Is this typical?  I would think you get a choice of auditor and date.  Just wondering.  Also, is it typical to get the same auditor the next year? 

 

Wouldn't be great if one could get the exact date, however reality says that 15 days is pretty darn close to your request - typical, yes. It's all based on availability, sector categories, areas of operation, what the client will and will not pay for in the area of travel expenses, etc.  I was an SQF Auditor with most the FSC's and there was a new client in Madagascar that needed 5 of the more obscure FSC's and they wanted an October 1st date - I was booked out 10 months on average and we shoehorned them in for December 1st and would have had to travel from the states, boy that was an assignment!  I think you are lucky to get an Auditor with 15 days difference.

 

You get a "choice" but only if that is available - I think you did pretty darn good.

 

Normally you'll have the same Auditor 2-3 years in a row and then they have to rotate out.

Edited by SQFconsultant, 18 December 2023 - 07:09 PM.

[mgourley]

We have had two auditors over the 9 years I have been with my current company.

After the closing meeting of our BRCGS audit, I always schedule for the upcoming year. These guys are busy and generally have their schedules mostly set a year out.

Our audit next year is unnaounced, but I have a pretty good idea when it will be, based on our auditors schedule .

 

In your case, getting an audit within two weeks of your requested date is pretty good.

 

Marshall

[SnaxAuditor]

Yes, all normal. It'll change slightly each year but you'll generally get slotted in to the same time frame until it's a mandatory unannounced. 

[MlissaB]

Our company has sites certified to the Packaging standard under BRC. Auditors are VERY hard to find and we have learned to be lucky to get anywhere near the date we want and there are times we have had the auditor changed a week or two before the date. I've already received two auditor changes for this year and it's only Jan. 

[mgourley]

As I stated earlier, auditors are busy, and it's not really a career field that I see a lot of people getting into.

Too much travel, time away from home, etc.

If you really want to bust your hump, you can make a pretty decent living at it, but at the expense of a home life.

 

Marshall