4 replies to this topic

[BigGaz1982]

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.

[Setanta]

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

[Tony-C]

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

[BigGaz1982]

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.

[BigGaz1982]

I promised a response if I got anywhere, so thought that I would fulfil that promise.

 

I have spoken to a number of audit bodies, and found the answer.

 

The BRCGS has done itself no favours, apparently, by using terminology in the standard that is confusing, but VM11 is very specific.

 

In terms of VM11, this is where the site that is undergoing it's BRCGS Audit operates another site itself, where cross docking is taking place.

 

So as an example:

 

Company A is based in the North East. They have customers based in the South West but the time taken to get to them means that the drivers are unable to do the job in a single day. Company A purchases a hub in the midlands, and this hub conducts cross-docking. There is no storage, and the hub simply acts as a place for product to be redistributed from a single Articulated Vehicle and onto several smaller vehicles for onward delivery to the customer.

 

As Company A is BRCGS Accredited, and as they have full control of the cross-docking operations at their own Hub, then the BRCGS can audit the Hub using VM11 so that the process is covered by Company A's BRCGS Accreditation.

 

If Company A opted to not have VM11 undertaken, this wouldn't affect their ability to achieve accreditation, but it would place onto their certificate that Cross-Docking was exempt.

 

How does this fit with my scenario?

 

In my scenario, the company has multiple sites within it's group, and each site is BRCGS Accredited itself.

 

Site A ships into Site B with an articulated vehicle of pre-picked orders on pallets. These pallets are taken off the vehicle at Site B, and then loaded onto smaller vehicles for onward delivery to the end customer.

 

As Site B has it's own accreditation, and as the systems and processes at Site B are managed by themselves, this is not considered Cross-Docking as per VM11. This is covered under the mandatory sections of the standard for Site B and thus covered by their accreditation.

 

In terms of the traceability of the product to the end customer door, then this is covered under the mandatory sections of the BRCGS S&D Standard, and is covered under Site A's accreditation.

 

Basically, as long as Site B follow the same processes they do for their own goods and as long as Site A can perform a traceability on the product in the allocated time frames, then the usual certification process for both sites covers the process and no VM11 is required.

 

Could there be a caveat?

 

Yes, there could.

 

If in the same case as above Site A is accredited but Site B was not, then VM11 would come into play else the product would not be being handled by an approved site, and Site A would need to take control of the processes at Site B in relation to their goods.

 

The biggest problem with all of this is that it is not exclusively determined in the Standard properly. I have heard the term "Internal Cross-Docking" being referred to under the example that fits my own case. However, we are not referring to the process as Cross-Docking, it is known as Reallocating for Onward Delivery.