Start-up Checklist for Preparing a New Facility for SQF?
New to the SQF world and we are moving into a new facility. Is there any new start up check lists out there? What all you need before move in and then after?
That's a big couple of questions. Typically, you will not be able to achieve SQF certification until the facility has been running for at least 3 months, but most certification bodies like to see 6 months or so of operations. Now, that's considering you started off with all policies and procedures that meet SQF requirements.
If you have another facility that is similar or the same and SQF certified you can simply use those policies and procedures in the new facility. I would stress, do lots and lots of training. If time permits, train people to do things the right way and make sure they understand and follow GMP's and SQF. If you do this upfront it will make your life so much easier going forward.
Thank you for your response. We are SQF now but we will be moving this facility into a new building all together. I came in this role with everything established. So, I want to ensure I do not miss a permit or process (no processes will actually change). On top of that, I heard that we have 30 days to notify SQF of the new facility and an inspection. I am not locating any useful information on this. Thanks again for all your help.
Here is a list of checklists and guidance for SQF depending on what you do:
As long as your PRPs are in place, effective and approved, your foundation for the rest of the program should fall into place. Actually the new facility should have taken everything GFSI into account from ground zero: Location, surroundings, building materials, layout, flow, machine design etc. If that's all in line you should be good with the rest. your initial PRPs can be difficult to overcome if they aren't done right the first time.
We have checklists for ground up construction and what we call humpty dumpy I fell down re-ups for certification (a long story indeed.)
This is however, the first thing you need to do - it should be #1 on the checklist as your current SQF Certfication does not carry to the new location and I am not aware of a 30 day window.
5.6 Relocation of Premises When a certified site relocates their business premises, the site’s certification does not transfer to the new site. A successful certification of the new premises must be conducted. An initial certification audit of the new premise shall apply, i.e. a desk audit and site audit.
So, you go through the whole process as if you were never certified, of course it does help that you can carry much of the data over.
So if there's any way you can move into the new facility within 30 days of your re-certification, you can move the audit to the new location without the cost of another $6,000.00 - $10,000.00 audit! Might be wishful thinking... :)
Here is a list of checklists and guidance for SQF depending on what you do:
Seems to yield a "Page Not Found" ???
Seems to yield a "Page Not Found" ???
Yeah that's strange it was working fine. I guess their website is down.
Same thing happened to me looking for guidance documents for a colleague. Searched SQFI Guidance and the link from google sent me to a "Page Not Found" error. If you look in the resources section they're all there though. They must have changed their site recently.
Same thing happened to me looking for guidance documents for a colleague. Searched SQFI Guidance and the link from google sent me to a "Page Not Found" error. If you look in the resources section they're all there though. They must have changed their site recently.
New link seems to be -