For sites who've had their first unannounced audit
I figure that all sites, even those on the announced scheme must have had their first unannounced now.
I remember my first unannounced audits, I think they were v7? Whenever the UK retailers started to insist on it anyway. My first realisation was it wasn't as bad as I imagined. But then the auditors were pretty new to it then too and I think a touch more lenient.
If you've just gone through your first unannounced audit in the last year or so, how did it feel vs. the announced scheme? Would you consider going fully unannounced as you have to every three years anyway?
I'd do fully unannounced. They tend to be more liberal and you have more leeway. As long as routine stuff is taken care of, they won't probe you too much how they do on announced ones. This is my experience.
My unannounced was last fall. SQF, so window is only 2 months. The audit itself was no biggie-the same as any other audit. I think the big thing is the idea of life on hold waiting for it to happen (no scheduling appointments, time off).
Yes, other people can handle the audit, but we are a small company and frankly, I do not want them to have to do it. We all have roles. We can cover each other when necessary, but we are all best in our own lanes.
No way am I putting my actual life on hold for 2 months out of the year, every year. So-that's gonna be a no for me dawg
No way am I putting my actual life on hold for 2 months out of the year, every year. So-that's gonna be a no for me dawg
We are selling through Costco--I have no choice iin the matter. (I mean if I stay at my current location).
The wait stinks on ice. It's been a number of years since my last unannoucned audit, but I found it to be less organized on both of our parts. I am not a fan.
I could live with fully unannounced, its always the same two month window. Not hard to schedule life around that.
I think the window is longer for BRCGS? But either way, we used to have unannounced Tesco, Lidl, Sainsbury's, BRCGS and I think one of the M&S ones? There's probably some I'm forgetting. It gets to be routine and I learned to accept I couldn't be there for every one so I didn't put my life on hold. We just made sure 3 people could run the audits, 4 at a push and made sure ideally only one of us was off at once (apart from Fridays. No unannounced auditor starts an audit on a Friday.)
We are selling through Costco--I have no choice iin the matter. (I mean if I stay at my current location).
we've opted to remove the Costco addendum from our SQF audit ====we will still do 1 day Costco unannounced---I can live with that Here, at least, the only piece Costco ever wants to deep dive on is trace/recall and I can manage that bit in my sleep
I could live with fully unannounced, its always the same two month window. Not hard to schedule life around that.
Agreed, I don't care if they're announced or unannounced. Doesn't matter to me.