Preparation for audits / inspections / visits: local, regional, national and international
The best preparation is to always be ready
Audits , inspections and customer visits have long been part of the scene . Receiving visitors should be part of the daily routine. If you have implemented good laboratory practices , ISO 17025 , a PCP , other standards , customer requirements; it's that you've put the time and effort into it. So, it is more than important to behave as if there were visitors every day .
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
It doesn't matter whether we come to see what you're doing or not; you must comply at all times with regulatory compliance requirements, norms and standards and customer requirements that apply to your establishment .
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
Take the time to ask yourself the following question : Is it more complicated and more expensive to be compliant all the time or to respond to DACs , non-conformities following audits , inspections or visits .
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
To ask the question is to answer it because if you are not ready:
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
You will have non-conformities or DACs to manage which will require time and resources
You risk interruptions
You risk losing contracts
You risk coming into conflict with the regulatory authority , audit firms and / or clients
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
How to prepare and always be ready?
Tracking your activities and level of regulatory compliance is important for this purpose as it allows you to take the pulse of the situation and avoid losing control.
Regular internal audits allow you to adjust as you go and avoid major fixes
Management reviews make it possible to validate that there is an adequacy between the vision of the company and what is happening in your establishment in order to avoid mismatch and the pro quo.
The regular presence of sales representatives on the floor is an essential part of ensuring that everyone has the same understanding of what is being done and how it is done.
Constant exchanges and occasional meetings between teams / departments are important so that everyone is aware of what is happening in your establishment and that everyone speaks the same language.
If it is a foreign delegation , a minimum preparation is necessary to know more about the particular regulatory requirements , the customs and other useful tips to know. The CFIA may, in some cases, assist you.
To have a written and documented procedure for audits, inspections and visits with specific rules related to compliance requirements, norms and standards or customer requirements
Do not hesitate to organize in-house simulations of surprise visits that focus on specific themes and document everything
Do not hide anything , clearly identify what is not working and document your deductions
Make sure to intervene as soon as something goes wrong and ideally before the person auditing , inspecting or visiting
In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.
What more
What you do best : your day-to-day work ensuring you meet compliance requirements , norms and standards, and customer requirements.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
Remember that nothing is perfect and that it is quite normal to have a register of nonconformities that contains nonconformities. The opposite would be suspicious , very suspicious, just like never having customer complaints or breakages in your establishment.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
We are able to help you develop , implement or perfect your preparation for audits, inspections and visits so that you are able to continue to meet regulatory compliance requirements and those of your customers (including those stipulated in the standards GFSI ). You will get less nonconformities and this will help you approach these meetings with less stress and more on you to show you at your best.