Perform BRC Audit Food Safety & Quality Management System (Clause 3) using eAuditor
BRC Audit Food Safety & Quality Management System (Clause 3) refers to the section within the BRC Global Standards that outlines the essential requirements for establishing and maintaining a robust food safety and quality management system. Clause 3 focuses on policies, procedures, and controls necessary to ensure consistent production of safe, high-quality food products. This includes hazard analysis, risk management, supplier approval, traceability, internal audits, training, and continuous improvement. Compliance with Clause 3 demonstrates a company’s commitment to systematic food safety and quality assurance aligned with regulatory and customer expectations.
Performing BRC Audit Food Safety & Quality Management System (Clause 3) using eAuditor ensures a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of a food facility’s management systems designed to guarantee food safety and quality. This digital audit approach helps verify the implementation, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of policies, procedures, and controls critical for meeting BRC standards. Utilizing eAuditor facilitates accurate data collection, evidence documentation, and efficient reporting, supporting certification compliance and operational excellence.
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Purpose of BRC Audit Food Safety & Quality Management System (Clause 3) in eAuditor
The audit aims to:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of food safety and quality management policies and procedures
- Verify risk management practices including hazard analysis and preventive controls
- Assess supplier approval and management processes
- Review traceability and recall systems
- Check internal audit and corrective action mechanisms
- Ensure staff training and competence related to food safety and quality
- Promote continuous improvement and compliance with BRC Audit Food Safety standards
- Document findings and track corrective actions digitally
Using eAuditor enhances audit accuracy and efficiency.
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Preparing for the Audit Using eAuditor
Preparation includes:
- Selecting or customizing a Clause 3 checklist in eAuditor tailored to your food safety and quality systems
- Gathering relevant documents such as HACCP plans, supplier records, audit reports, and training logs
- Scheduling the audit with involved departments to ensure cooperation
- Ensuring auditors are trained on BRC Clause 3 requirements and eAuditor use
- Reviewing previous audit outcomes and corrective actions
- Briefing the audit team on objectives, scope, and procedures
Preparation ensures a focused and comprehensive audit.
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Step-by-Step BRC Audit Clause 3 Process in eAuditor
3.1 Food Safety and Quality Policies
- Review documented food safety and quality policies for clarity and alignment with BRC standards
- Confirm communication and accessibility of policies to all relevant personnel
- Check for regular reviews and updates of policies
Strong policies provide the foundation for effective systems.
3.2 Hazard Analysis and Risk Management
- Evaluate the hazard analysis process including identification, evaluation, and control measures
- Verify implementation of preventive controls based on risk assessments
- Review monitoring procedures and record-keeping
Effective risk management reduces food safety hazards.
3.3 Supplier Approval and Management
- Assess supplier selection criteria, approval, and ongoing monitoring
- Verify documentation of supplier audits and performance evaluations
- Check controls for incoming materials and supplier compliance
Reliable suppliers support consistent product safety and quality.
3.4 Traceability and Recall Systems
- Review traceability procedures from raw materials to finished products
- Test recall plans for effectiveness and timeliness
- Confirm record-keeping supports traceability requirements
Robust traceability enables rapid response to food safety incidents.
3.5 Internal Audits and Corrective Actions
- Verify scheduling and execution of internal audits for food safety and quality systems
- Review corrective action processes for identifying, documenting, and resolving non-conformances
- Assess follow-up procedures to ensure effectiveness
Internal audits drive continuous improvement.
3.6 Training and Competence
- Check training programs related to food safety, quality, and BRC standards
- Verify records of training attendance and effectiveness assessments
- Observe staff awareness and adherence to policies and procedures
Competent staff ensure consistent implementation of systems.
3.7 Continuous Improvement
- Review mechanisms for identifying improvement opportunities
- Assess management review processes and their effectiveness
- Document actions taken to enhance food safety and quality management
Ongoing improvement strengthens system resilience.
3.8 Final Review and Reporting
- Summarize audit findings, highlighting compliance and areas needing improvement
- Assign corrective actions with responsible individuals and deadlines
- Obtain digital signatures from auditors and management via eAuditor
- Generate comprehensive audit reports with photos and notes
- Share reports with relevant stakeholders for follow-up
This step formalizes audit results and supports accountability.
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Post-Audit Process and Follow-Up
eAuditor streamlines management of audit outcomes:
- Automatically generate detailed audit reports with supporting evidence
- Distribute reports promptly to management and quality teams
- Track corrective actions and verify completion within eAuditor
- Store audit records securely for regulatory and certification purposes
- Analyze audit data to identify trends and improve management systems
Digital tools improve transparency and system effectiveness.
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Customization Options in eAuditor
Tailor audits to your food safety and quality systems:
- Build checklists specific to your processes and regulatory requirements
- Use conditional logic to focus on critical risk areas
- Add photo prompts and comment fields for detailed evidence
- Set automated alerts for overdue or critical corrective actions
- Integrate with quality management and training systems
- Support multilingual audits for global teams
Customization enhances audit relevance and efficiency.
Summary
Conducting a BRC Audit of Food Safety & Quality Management System (Clause 3) using eAuditor ensures your facility’s management systems effectively protect food safety and maintain product quality. The digital platform streamlines evaluation, documentation, and reporting, fostering transparency and continuous improvement. Customizable checklists and real-time corrective action tracking support compliance and operational excellence, making eAuditor an essential tool for BRC certification readiness.