Food safety, traceability and sustainability blog

Adapting Your Auditing Strategy to Account for Leaner Operations

Introducing our guest blogger, John Paul (JP) Gutierrez, Vice President of Client Solutions and head of solution engineering at FoodLogiQ. Pulling from his 20+ years of experience in delivering SaaS-based solutions in the supply chain and supplier management space across a variety of industries, JP shares insights on recent auditing trends and recommendations for food organizations looking to adapt their auditing practices while faced with reduced operations.

Throughout 2020, organizations within the food industry have been dealt many an unexpected obstacle. One of the most popular challenges for enterprise Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and retail grocer brands, in particular, has been maintaining a high level of output in the face of shifting demand, lean operations and fewer resources. An important method for understanding process efficiency, identifying production trends and variances, maintaining compliance and upholding trust has been auditing. Learn how food companies have shifted their auditing practice by format, frequency and execution, and how the adoption of digitized audits has counteracted many of the challenges brought on by a reduction in resources.

30 Minute Listen: Actionable Audits for Enhanced Food Safety ft. EFI

FoodLogiQ Product Marketing Manager Kirstin Meyerhoeffer is joined by EFI Data and Impact Manager Lexie DeGrandChamp for a discussion about auditing best practices, shifting to address changes brought on by COVID-19, finding the right combination of auditing formats and successfully deploying internal audits. Listen to the conversation on actionable audits, hear more about FoodLogiQ’s new internal auditing functionality, and learn how to best utilize quality data to uphold food safety and harness trust in your brand.

Whether executed internally, assigned to suppliers or conducted by a third party, audits enable organizations within the food industry to proactively identify and resolve issues while continuously delivering on brand promise. 

The Equitable Food Initiative’s Data and Impact Manager Lexie DeGrandchamp knows this firsthand. EFI is a nonprofit certification and skill-building organization that seeks to transform agriculture and improve the lives of farmworkers. The organization brings together growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumers to solve the most pressing issues facing the fresh produce industry. Its unparalleled approach sets standards for labor practices, food safety and pest management, while engaging workers at all levels on the farm to produce Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured™ fruits and vegetables.

DeGrandchamp manages data collection and organization from certified farms and participating retail partners, and helps tell the story of EFI’s impact on farms and farmworkers in the Americas. In short, she lives and breathes the troves of auditing data collected across dozens of locations internationally.

Going Virtual: Conducting 1st, 2nd and 3rd Party Audits Remotely

Remote auditing is becoming a more central aspect of modern food safety compliance. Don't miss FoodLogiQ's upcoming demo on how to conduct and respond to virtual audits.

In their many forms, audits embody an essential practice for monitoring, managing and upholding product consistency, brand quality and regulatory compliance. Whether conducted firsthand, assigned to supply chain partners or executed by a third party, audits enable organizations within the food industry to identify and address issues proactively while simultaneously delivering on brand promise. And while important in seemingly stable times, these exercises are even more vital in the face of uncertainty.

Conducting Product Specification Audits with FoodLogiQ Connect

Join our live demo of FoodLogiQ Connect's Manage + Monitor on Tuesday, August 20th at 2 PM ET and learn how you can ensure your suppliers' products adhere to your brand's specifications. 

Managing food quality audits has become increasingly complex with increased regulation in the food industry. Consumers are hyper-vigilant about the quality of the food they eat, and the transparency of the food companies that produce it for them. Without an effective food quality audit program, poor quality can destroy your brand loyalty and send customers to competitors.

Food Safety Regulations: Prevention is as Important as Response to Food Safety Incidents

It’s time to ask the hard question: Is your company prepared for an audit or food-related incident?

Food regulatory requirements have shifted in nature; now, rather than primarily focusing on responding to food safety incidents, there is an increased emphasis on food safety prevention. Fortunately, there are a variety of tools to help food and beverage manufacturers ensure that they are compliant with food safety regulations; the key is preparing for food safety audits in advance. Audits can occur in-house by a designated team or by an external auditor, with the purpose being to identify areas for improvement to processes and systems.