As I understand it, there are two separate Management Review elements at work: A monthly, for lack of better term, "update" and the "at least annual" program review that need to occur. Due to recently discovered deficiencies in our program, we currently do a full management review every quarter, dividing between them the specific elements that need to be covered with some overlap on elements that we feel need more frequent attention for now. The Presidents of the company attend and now run this but the Plant Manager does not usually attend this meeting. Edition 8 states:
"2.1.3.1 The senior site management shall be responsible for reviewing the SQF System and documenting the
review procedure. Reviews shall include:
i. The policy manual;
ii. Internal and external audit findings;
iii. Corrective actions and their investigations and resolution;
iv. Customer complaints and their resolution and investigation;
v. Hazard and risk management system; and
vi. Follow-up action items from previous management review.
2.1.3.2 The SQF practitioner (s) shall update senior site management on a (minimum) monthly basis on matters
impacting the implementation and maintenance of the SQF System. The updates and management responses shall
be documented. The SQF System in its entirety shall be reviewed at least annually.
2.1.3.3 Food safety plans, Good Manufacturing Practices and other aspects of the SQF System shall be reviewed
and updated as needed when any potential changes implemented have an impact on the site's ability to deliver
safe food.
2.1.3.4 Records of all management reviews and updates shall be maintained."
We have a monthly Supervisor meeting where I cover current SQF issues. Upper management and Plant Manager attend, and minutes are taken. When I receive the minutes, I make a copy and redact the items not related to SQF then include it in my Food Safety Folder. The auditor has accepted this as the monthly update so far. I also created a Management Review form that lists the required elements to be covered and a place for notes by each. At the end are sections to record new Corrective Actions and previous meeting topics. So I guess it depends on your definition of "Senior Site Management" in your Organization Chart. This is just the way we've addressed it.