Why a supplier audit is becoming increasingly important
As a purchasing party, you are expected to check whether suppliers are working according to agreements made. In practice, this is becoming increasingly difficult. Raw materials are coming from further away, chains are becoming more complex and remote monitoring offers less certainty.
Supplier audits are an essential part of GFSI-recognised standards because they help companies ensure the safety, quality, and compliance of purchased products. Since organisations in the food supply chain remain ultimately responsible for the products they place on the market, it is crucial to actively manage risks at supplier level as well. Through supplier audits, companies gain insight into processes, hazards, and control measures at their partners, and can demonstrate that they take their due diligence and responsibility in the supply chain seriously.
This is how we carry out a supplier audit
In a supplier audit, our auditors assess the processes and products that are directly related to the product that your supplier supplies to you. The audit focuses specifically on the components relevant to your organization.
Among other things, we check:
- Whether food safety and quality requirements are met
- Whether legal requirements are complied with
- How risks are systematically controlled
- Whether contractual agreements are safeguarded
- How traceability is organised
- Which measures are implemented to prevent food fraud
- How the supplier has structurally embedded sustainability in policies, objectives, and operational processes
In this way you tackle potential problems at the source and prevent complaints and risks further down the chain.
Strong chain assurance
A supplier audit is not only a means of control, but also a way to improve together. We work closely with you to align the audit with your supply chain and objectives.
What this gives you in concrete terms:
- You know whether your supply chain assurance is really in order
- You secure demonstrable agreements with suppliers
- You limit risks for food safety and quality
- You save time by outsourcing audits
- You can focus on your core business.
Extensive experience with supplier audits
Our specialists are trained in accordance with GFSI requirements to conduct supplier audits, which is a crucial contribution to ensuring food safety and quality throughout the supply chain. They are fully familiar with the latest standards and guidelines and have extensive experience in audits within the food industry. During an audit, they objectively assess whether suppliers manage and deliver their processes and products in compliance with the required guidelines.
Based on their findings, you will receive clear insights and practical advice. We conduct each audit fully customized.
Together we determine:
- What exactly will be audited
- Where the focus lies
- How much time and capacity is needed.
Supplier audit training
At Normec Foodcare, you also have the opportunity to take a Supplier Audit training course. In this training you learn to perform effective supplier audits with attention to the important relationship with your supplier. Together you look for opportunities for improvement
.In accordance with the GFSI standard, supplier audits must be carried out by auditors who can demonstrate that they have been trained in line with the applicable standards. Only with documented and recognised training are the supplier audits you conduct valid within the scope of your GFSI certification, enabling you to demonstrate that you effectively control risks in the supply chain and comply with food safety and compliance requirements.
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Frequently asked questions about supplier audits
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A supplier audit is an assessment of a supplier’s processes and products to verify whether agreements are being complied with.
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Especially when supply chains become more complex or remote oversight does not provide sufficient assurance, supplier audits are necessary. They are particularly important when suppliers cannot provide the required evidence or certificates, so that you can demonstrate, as part of your own GFSI certification, that they also control hazards and processes at the same level. In this way, you safeguard both food safety and compliance throughout the entire supply chain.
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Including food safety, quality, process control, critical control measures, legality, traceability, contractual agreements, and risks of food fraud.
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Yes. We tailor each supplier audit to your needs, risks and supply chain.
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Yes. Through the Supplier Audit training at Normec Foodcare.