SafetyChain Blog

When something goes wrong in a manufacturing facility, it’s not only important to address the issue, but prevent it from happening again. Only by understanding the root cause of the issue can you stop it from recurring. In the fast-paced environments of Food & Beverage and CPG plants, timeliness is critical for pinpointing the heart of an issue. For this reason, plant management relies on the tried-and-true methods of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and CAPA to identify and prevent issues. Here’s a closer look at how these approaches benefit operations and how they’re being modernized for greater speed and accuracy.

On November 7, 2022, the FDA published the much-anticipated final version of the Food Traceability Rule, also known as FSMA 204. Proactive manufacturing companies are taking the initiative to get their processes and paperwork in order before audits subject to FSMA 204 begin.

We sat down with Dr. Liliana Casal-Wardle, Executive Senior Director of Food Safety & Supply Chain Risk Management at TAG, where she detailed whatFSMA 204changes had occurred, what's needed for building up your food safety culture and data tracing processes to meet 204 compliance, AND how this helps to drive down costs while driving productivity up.

In this blog, we’ll answer common questions about FSMA 204 and supply chain traceability to help you get your entire global supply chain ready for compliance audits.

When evaluating the potential payoff of a QMS investment, companies can assess their potential return on investment using this simple ROI calculation:

(Gain/Savings Achieved from the Investment – Cost of Investment) / (Cost of Investment)

The FDA is digging in more into company food safety plans and hazard analysis practices. In fact, a written hazard analysis is a required part of your food safety plan, which must be prepared or overseen by one or more preventive controls qualified individuals. Continuously improving your food safety plan relies on your ability to accurately measure food safety culture at your plant.

Certification against Issue 9 standards began on Feb 1, 2023. Recently, SafetyChain covered changes in BRCGS Issue 9 from BRCGS Issue 8. If you haven’t yet, read our previous blog to learn what is the BRCGS Food Safety standard, because in this blog, we’re going to hit the ground running and tell you how to prepare for your audit against Issue 9 standards.

When BRC Issue 9 was published on August 1, 2022, there was time to procrastinate. After all, certification against Issue 9 standards only just began on Feb 1, 2023. But now that we’re well into 2023, and with a mandatory, unannounced BRC audit conducted every three years, Issue 9 is a high priority for all manufacturers hoping to pass or keep their BRC certification.

In this blog, we’ll cover the major changes between Issues 8 and 9 of the BRC. But first, let’s provide an overview of the BRC audit and what is BRC certification.

What is Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and what can it do for your operation? Many manufacturers understand OEE as a critical operational measurement, but few know how to properly assess OEE in a manner that stimulates continuous improvement. This blog identifies areas where OEE is often overlooked or mis-leveraged.

Risk is an inherent aspect of owning and operating a business, but it is especially complex in the food and beverage industry. From disruptions in the supply chain to food contamination, there are many things that can go wrong. Risk management for food is an all-encompassing endeavor. Although it may be challenging, it isn’t impossible to achieve. Here are four key considerations for minimizing risks in your facility.

Food allergies are on the rise, with the prevalence of food allergies nearly doubling in recent decades. As a result, the FDA has increased the pressure on food manufacturing and processing companies to control allergens.

Effective leadership in today's manufacturing landscape isn't just a role; it's a powerful skillset that drives measured operational improvement.Understand the essential manufacturing leadership skills your improvement projects demand to quickly take effect in your facility.