In the article below, Beatriz Aybar-Barboza, specialist in Food Safety Management Systems, gives an overview of her visit to the Nestle multi-factory in Peru, where she undertook training as part of the Training Team Member Auditor Programme under FSSC 22000. Funding for this visit was provided under the safefood Training & Mobility Programme. More information on the programme available here.
Biography
Beatriz Aybar-Barboza is a specialist in Food Safety Management Systems and HACCP Validation. She has a Research Masters in ‘Quantitative risk ranking of food hazards’ from University College Dublin. She began her career working in Nestle and has been working in the Food Industry for more than 10 years. Beatriz is from Peru and studied her degree in Food Science Engineering in La Molina National Agrarian University in Lima, Peru. Beatriz has a special interest in Sustainable Food Business Development and Innovation.
Visit Aims and Objectives
The Aim of my visit was to finish the audit training days required for a Lead Auditor Qualification.
The objectives of the visit were:
- To execute the FSSC 22000 Surveillance Audit to the Nestle multi-factory in Peru.
- To learn and improve audit techniques from the Lead Auditor.
- To support during the auditing with reports and auditing.
Purpose and Relevance of Visit
The purpose of the visit was to gain auditing experience in order to finish the required audit days - one of the requirements to qualify as an FSSC 22000 auditor. This visit was very relevant because I am working as an Operations Technical Manager in Keelings Farm Fresh and one of my responsibilities is to audit our suppliers.
Transfer of Knowledge
This visit allowed for the transfer of knowledge essential for the improvement of Food Safety Management Systems. Ireland is a food island and competitiveness is key to growth in the business. It is so important to keep updated in Food Safety Management knowledge. As a Technical Manager working with more than 50 suppliers, I will transfer my experience through recommendations and advice.
Benefits and Conclusions
The value of the visit was high, as not too many food safety professionals have the opportunity to attend an Audit for nearly 9 days at a Nestle Multiproduct factory. The processes in this site included the production of dairy products, condiments and confectionary. The FSSC 22000 standard is very demanding and is suitable for global companies with complex supply chains like Coca Cola, Nestle and Mondelez.
Conclusions & Recommendations
The visit was successful and very productive. The audit process is an intense task and team-work was essential to keep the information and timetables flowing. I learnt new auditing techniques that will shape my personal audit style. Auditing a company like Nestle was a very enriching experience as it is one of the most innovative food companies in the world. I would recommend any food safety specialist to get audit training in different food safety or quality management standards.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge SGS for let do the Audit training with them, especially to Pamela Castillo, Fiorella Buenano and my mentor Ada Kohler. Ada was so helpful and it was such an opportunity to have her as the Lead Auditor.
Also, to my Line Manager David Bury in Keeling Farm Fresh who encouraged me to take this opportunity and gave me the authorization to travel to Peru do the training. I would like to thank Tracey Thompson for being supportive and understanding, to safefood for giving me the opportunity to participate in this Programme.
Finally I would to acknowledge to Nestle Peru, especially for the Quality Assurance Manager Cesar Caceres, the Food safety Team Leader (Angelica Acleto), the Supply Chain specialist (Otto Rojas) and all the team members including Hugo Lopez, Carlos Adrianzen and Gerald Vite. The Nestle team have been very supportive and patient in my learning experience.
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