The BRC Global Standards (BRCGS) certification functions as a main requirement for businesses in the food and packaging sectors. Also, include storage and consumer goods industries to show their dedication to product safety and quality assurance. Once you get the BRCGS certification, this will make a vital shift for business development. Also, increases business integrity by gaining client and consumer trust. Huh! It is pretty difficult to clear the entire process; many organizations face challenges in the BRCGS certification audit process. These challenges in BRCGS Certification can be hidden in the form of unclear requirements, process difficulties, and the ongoing demands to follow changing standards.
What are those challenges in BRCGS Certification? How should I resolve those challenges? And much more running on your heads? This blog is the way to clear all your doubts, make a good move, and get the BRCGS Certification easily.
What is BRCGS Certification?
BRCGS presents itself as an internationally approved system that reviews businesses and matches safety and quality management rules. This certification serves multiple industries, including food manufacturing, packaging storage, and distribution, to protect customers and ensure that products are safe for use. The BRCGS certification program is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which guides businesses to establish workable systems for controlling food safety management throughout their operations.
Challenges in BRCGS Certification Audit
Although BRCGS audits promote business safety and credibility, they can come with various hidden challenges that businesses might not foresee. Here’s a closer look at these challenges:
#1 Understanding Key Rules and Clauses
The main difficulty business leaders face arises from the complicated nature of clauses and requirements defined by the BRCGS guidelines. The standards include numerous clauses covering areas such as management commitment, quality management systems, food safety, product safety, and employee training programs.
➜ Challenge: Multiple organizations find it difficult to understand and implement BRCGS clauses in their actual business processes. They face issues in matching their business practices with BRCGS standards because their operations span multiple locations and are large in scale.
➜ Solution: The key to overcoming this challenge is to follow BRCGS standards by providing complete education and training about these standards. Regular internal audits and mock evaluation activities will help an organization find gaps in compliance. Organizations that work with an expert BRCGS Consultant in BRCGS standards can improve the standards because this consultant will lead the organization through all necessary steps.
#2 Lack of Proper Documentation and Record-Keeping
The BRCGS certification needs proper documentation along with thorough record-keeping as the main requirements. The certification process requires all steps of quality control checks, food safety audits, and corrective action records, as well as employee training information maintenance logs and supplier documentation. Auditors examine the updates and compliance of main records during the audit procedure.
➜ Challenge: Overseeing proper documentation is a major challenge because organizations do not prioritize accurate documentation details. The business works with the system but fails to keep its records due to its disorganized data. The audit team expects immediate access to every required document and record when performing the audit.
➜ Solution: A comprehensive documentation system serving easy maintenance must be established by companies to handle this challenge. The BRCGS certification process requires all steps of quality control checks, food safety audits, and corrective action records, as well as employee training information. A good practice involves internal audits of documentation and records, which should take place before the external audit occurs.
#3 Inconsistent Employee Training
The successful fulfillment of BRCGS standards and BRC food safety practices certification requires employees to undergo the necessary training. Staff members need full awareness of food safety protocols, quality procedures, and general operational standards. Training deficiencies or irregular sessions create areas where compliance requirements fail to be met.
➜ Challenge: The problem arises from the insufficient importance of continuous training by companies, which results in inadequate worker skill development for their duties. The lack of consistent training schedules produces staff member confusion when there are employee replacements within the organization.
➜ Solution: Spreading a standardized employee training program across all departments constitutes an important pathway to solving this issue. Training programs should provide a complete understanding of role-specific standards for hygiene, quality control requirements, and safety protocols to all staff members. A continuous improvement in compliance happens through employee tracking of training progress and mandatory refresher courses.
#4 Supply Chain Management and Supplier Control
Supplier management and control represent a typical difficulty that arises in BRCGS certification audits. BRCGS standards put a strong emphasis on raw materials and ingredient selection combined with other supply safety and quality evaluations.
➜ Challenge: The evaluation and continuous monitoring of suppliers presents itself as a major hurdle for businesses executing their operations. A BRCGS audit failure will happen if suppliers do not achieve minimum safety or quality standards, resulting in major consequences for the firm.
➜ Solution: Every business must create an extensive supplier management framework that combines supplier choice, assessment, and scheduled inspections for validating their BRCGS compliance. Companies must uphold open communication with their suppliers regarding the BRCGS certification guidelines, which specify their duties. The implementation of alternative plans provides businesses with protection in situations where their suppliers fail to perform their duties.
#5 Addressing Non-Conformities and Corrective Actions
Non-conformities represent the most frequently faced issue that auditors find during BRC GS audits. Auditors find problems such as deviations and uncovered areas and important non-compliance requirements that demand prompt action. The business needs to show effective procedures for the management of non-conformities that arise during standard certification processes.
➜ Challenge: Some businesses find it difficult to manage non-conformities and corrective actions, especially when there are multiple issues to address. Poorly managed corrective actions can result in recurring problems and jeopardize the certification process.
➜ Solution: To tackle this challenge, companies must have a well-defined corrective action plan that clearly outlines the process for identifying, addressing, and preventing non-conformities. Regular internal audits and pre-audit checks can help spot potential issues early. A dedicated team should be in place to follow up on corrective actions and ensure they are implemented effectively.
There are several areas in the BRCGS standard where non-conformities are most commonly found. Understanding these areas can help businesses take proactive steps to prevent issues before the audit. The top five most common areas of non-conformity (in order of most common to least) with the BRCGS food safety certification standard are:
➜ Clause 4.11.1 Premises and Equipment Hygiene
This section is about keeping the place and equipment clean and in good shape to stop any dirt or germs from spreading. Not following cleanliness rules is one of the most common problems found during checks.
➜ Clause 4.6.2 Equipment Construction and Maintenance
If equipment is not built well or not taken care of, it can cause cleanliness and safety problems. This is a common issue in inspections. Regular checks and proper care help follow the rules.
➜ Clause 4.4.8 Door Condition
Doors play an important role in keeping the place clean and safe. Common issues include old or damaged doors, poor sealing, or doors that don’t close properly.
➜ Clause 4.9.1.1 Non-Food Chemical Management
Handling non-food chemicals is another common issue. It’s important to store, label, and use them properly to avoid any risk of contamination and follow BRCGS Certification standards.
➜ Clause 4.4.1 Wall Condition
Wall condition is often ignored but can affect cleanliness. Cracked, dirty, or poorly maintained walls can collect dirt and germs, causing issues during inspections.
#6 Changing Standards and Ongoing Compliance
The process of obtaining BRCGS certification requires continuous efforts. Businesses need to adapt to standard evolutions so they can keep their certification status active. Maintaining compliance across time presents difficulties specifically because companies handle multiple audit and certification processes.
➜ Challenge: Many businesses confront difficulties when they need to keep track of the numerous changes made to BRCGS certification standards. Managed improper implementation of standard-aligned process changes and documentation along with employee training, increasing the chances of operational disturbances.
➜ Solution: Continued involvement in industry seminars and webinars, along with regular BRCGS update reviews, will provide the necessary information to stay current about any standard modifications. A compliance officer or a team must be assigned to follow BRCGS standards updates so the organization remains properly informed about changes.
#7 Underestimating Employee Competency Requirements
The Challenge
Auditors frequently check employee capabilities for their particular duties, yet employee training inadequacies can cause conformity issues.
Solution:
➜ The organization should create competency matrics that contain skill requirements for each position besides a system for assessing team members abilities against the set criteria.
➜ The organization should create role-specific training that will tackle skill gaps.
➜ Staff performance evaluation should be performed continuously with constructive feedback delivery as a standard practice.
Related Case Studies and Success Stories
➜ Case Study 1: Food Manufacturer’s Successful Transition to BRC GS Certification
A large food manufacturing company faced difficulties when first pursuing BRCGS certification due to inconsistencies in documentation and a lack of proper staff training. They successfully gained BRCGS certification after enlisting an expert consultant. BRCGS Consultant helped them establish a unified documentation system to deliver education to staff members and simplify their internal auditing procedures. Successful completion of BRCGS certification audits during the second attempt gave the company a substantial increase in its reputation as a trustworthy supplier for the global market.
➜ Case Study 2: BRCGS Food Packaging Company Overcomes Supplier Control Issues
A packaging company struggled with supplier management, with many of its suppliers failing to meet BRCGS food packaging certification standards. They adopted a better supplier selection process, implemented regular supplier audits, and established clearer communication channels, the company improved its supplier compliance and passed its BRC GS audit without issues.
Get BRC GS Certified with 100% Success – Partner with the Experts
There are various challenges, so worry? Do you have doubts in your head about who can help you fight with those challenges? BRCGS Consultant can be your biggest supporter. BRCGS certification doesn’t have to be a challenge when you have the right experts by your side! Why trust us?
➜ 100% Audit Success Rate
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Don’t let non-conformities delay your business growth! Whether you need gap analysis, corrective action plans, employee training, or full audit support, our BRCGS certification specialists are ready to help you. Call us now at +91 9310655040 to get started for a free consultation.
