Cross-docking under BRCGS S&D - a few questions

There may be a possibility that cross-docking is to be implemented within a business which operates a group of sites. Each site is individually accredited to the BRCGS S&D standard.

An opportunity has arose where cross-docking may be required for a temporary time frame.

My understanding is that Location A will ship orders pre-picked and palletised, and send these on an articulated vehicle to Location B. At Location B, they will take the pallets from the articulated vehicle, and transfer them to the warehouse loading area, where they are put onto smaller vehicles for delivery to customers.

In relation to this, I have a few questions:

• Who is the main accredited site according to the standard? Is this Location A that is shipping to Location B, or is this irrelevant as it switches Location?
   
• If the process of cross-docking is for a temporary period of time, will it be required to get an update to the certificate and audit by having the audit body back out?
  • Example, Location B has recently passed a BRCGS Audit without Section 11 on there. Cross-Docking is not for external customers. Would Location B be OK to run with their current certificate even if this process became long-standing?
• If Location A is only shipping product out to Location B, will they need to have Section 11 added to their audit if they are not doing the actual process?
  • The standard clearly states that Location A maintains responsibility for the product up to the point of delivery, so it would seem that Section 11 should be on their audit as they have the responsibility and would require the policies and procedures, test results and traces - but the statement about main certified sites confuses me.

As this will be taking place in a business which is grouped, the vast majority of documents will be centrally created and controlled, and made so that it can be implemented business wide, if needed. But there is still some confusion on this.

I don't know much about the BRCGS standard, but I wanted to bump this thread to get visibilty..

Hi BigGaz1982,

I can see why you are asking this question and indeed the standard is a bit confusing in this area. This is a module that was introduced in Issue 4 and so there is less of a history regarding people’s experience of compliance with this module.

There seems to be 2 ways of going about this:

1. Add Module 11 to Location A’s certification*

2. Ensure Cross-Docking was an operation covered during Location B’s certification audit **

** From the BRCGS Standard Cross-docking module 11 Introduction, Cross-docking requirements: ‘Where cross-docking occurs at the certificated site, this activity will be covered under the main certification audit and this module is not applicable.’

*Interpretation

‘It is recognised that some companies enhance their operations by working with exclusive or shared remote cross- docking facilities which are used for the faster movement of product with minimal storage times to distribute locally. Cross-docking may be included within the certification process where the main certificated site requesting this module can demonstrate authoritative control over the cross-docking facility by demonstrating compliance to the requirements below.’

See Appendix 5 Cross-docking annex to the main site certification

Personally, I would get in touch with your certification body and seek clarification. It would seem to me that even if Location B is certified that there are aspects of Module 11 that you would still need to ensure that you are compliant with including management, communication, contractual arrangements, handling requirements, internal audits, traceability and returns.

Kind regards,

Tony

Thanks very much for the response, Tony.

It really is sparse out there in relation to information. I have reached out to my auditors. It's a fine line between consultancy and guidance, but hopefully if I can get some understanding of what the audit body would expect to see in terms of compliance with the clause and clarification on wo should be certified, then it will certainly help.

If I do get anywhere with this, I will be sure to update this thread.