GFSI Programs: More Companies are Becoming Certified—Here's Why!
Jennifer Kinion
This is first in a series of posts about leveraging technology innovations to manage robust GFSI programs – and being audit-ready on demand. In this series, we hope to provide a better understanding of the challenges to managing a robust GFSI program, show how technology can automate, streamline and improve program management, and provide insight on how food safety & quality management solutions help create ROI for GFSI and overall food safety and quality assurance operations.
Today, more and more food and beverage companies are certified – or becoming certified – in a recognized Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) scheme. The reasons for doing so are many, including:
To implement a consistent and measurable program to mitigate risks and deliver the safest food possible.
GFSI schemes have become the standard by which food companies are judged for food safety 3rd-party inspections.
Reducing what many refer to as “audit fatigue” by having a set of safety/audit standards that are accepted across various customers, regulators, and certification bodies.
It’s good for risk assessment and management.
To help prepare for and comply with FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
To be competitive – today, many retailers and food service companies just will not buy from suppliers who are not certified in a benchmarked, recognized scheme such as SQF, FSSC 22000, BRC, Primus, IFS, Global Gap, and others.
Of course, when it comes to the benefits of any food safety program there are also challenges – and there’s no exception when it comes to GFSI programs. Among the concerns of food safety and quality assurance (FSQA) professionals at companies certified in or considering GFSI certification? Worry about having the resources to manage a robust program and be audit-ready on demand.
But GFSI is important. It’s critical for all of the reasons summarized above. And there is a solution that can help you manage a comprehensive program without draining your already over-burdened FSQA resources. So in upcoming posts, we'll take a look at the challenges of managing a program in a bit more detail. We’ll then explore how technology can automate, streamline, and improve program management. We'll talk about the key benefits of automating a food safety management solution for GFSI and how these technology innovations can create actual return on investment (ROI) to help you build your business case for automation deployment. Stay tuned!
Want to learn more about how SafetyChain can help your company more effectively manage GFSI compliance? Contact us today.
