GMPs in Achieving Globally Recognized Certification

Process changes were the biggest adjustments for plant workers transitioning into SQF, says Tim Budd, plant manager, Giovanni. “GMPs and food safety were already top priority here,” he notes, but there were changes to the scheduled processes for the products and more formalized monitoring of CCPs for the various HACCP plans. Working with Cornell University Cooperative Extension, processes were established that incorporated these critical factors into HACCP programs to achieve not only food safety, but desired product quality and shelf stability.

Patapow says, “Our QA team would go out and do monitoring training with plant employees, walk the facility and observe these activities, and conduct mock SQF interviews to determine their understanding of some of these changes.”

Budd thought TV would be a good way to make sure that critical data is, literally, in the face of his employees “instead of just standing in front of them talking at meetings,” he says. So the company mounted a large, flat-screen TV in the lunchroom on which information constantly scrolls about HACCP, SQF Level 2, as well as allergen management, handwashing, and other GMPs, even photos such as right and wrong label placements on Giovanni products. “The information includes explanations,” says Budd. “If you don’t explain the ‘why,’ it’s meaningless—you don’t get the cooperation from employees.”

Patapow says “the TV approach certainly has bolstered our training and awareness for our food safety and quality programs,” including helping workers prepare for “pertinent information for when the auditor came in.” Indeed, the SQF auditor from NSF told Patapow that she was “quite satisfied by the interviews conducted with employees.”

Giovanni uses ERP software built for the food industry, with functionality that includes automated traceability and recall processes. “Our processes were very manual and time consuming before we started using JustFoodERP. Now it’s easier to show processes for food safety and quality, and we’ve noticed large, rapid increases in the ways we can do the traceability study and mock recall required in our various audits,” says Patapow.

Giovanni also uses quality holds within the ERP system with plans to expand the quality management functionality, says Virginia Shields, production and systems analyst.

SQF Level 2 certification “affords us the opportunity to work with new retailers as we continue to look for ways to grow our business,” says Louis DeMent, CEO, Giovanni. “This certification exemplifies our continued commitment to providing safe, high-quality products to the marketplace.” The company intends, within the next couple of years, to begin working towards SQF Level 3 certification, the highest level that includes more focus on quality, such as quality control points.

Angus-Lee, a long-time business and trade journalist, now writes for IndustryBuilt. Reach her at [email protected].