Auditor Competency David Brackston Technical Director BRC Global

Auditor Competency David Brackston Technical Director BRC Global Standards

Agenda • • What makes a good auditor BRC Requirements for auditors Developments in auditor competency Auditors – the future.

Auditors • Auditors are the public representatives for the Standard and for the certification body. • Decisions effect – the commercial future of a site – the safety of the public – brand protection – confidence in a Standard or certification body

What makes a good auditor GFSI Working Group

Auditing skills • • Audit planning Questioning techniques Time keeping Collecting and recording information Sampling techniques Analysis of audit findings Audit report writing

Behaviour and system thinking • Interpersonal behaviour – Interview technique – Managing conflict – Audit leadership • Systems Thinking – Critical thinking / problem solving – Root cause analysis • Ethics

Technical Knowledge of • The audit standard and its requirements • Food safety • The product sector and technology • HACCP • Legislation • Quality Management Systems

BRC Requirements • Degree or higher education in Food or a Bio Science • Minimum 5 years Food industry experience • Lead Assessor trained • HACCP • BRC Standards Training (3 days)

And then…… • Minimum of 10 audits experience – (5 of which must be supervised BRC audits) • Sign off audit with experienced senior auditor • Auditor profile and category knowledge provided to the BRC for vetting and approval to audit.

And once qualified… • Witnessed audits from senior auditor within the Certification Body • All audit reports reviewed • Maintain knowledge on legislation , product and technological developments • Re-training and examination with each change of the Standard

BRC Next steps in developing auditor competence • Sector specific auditor competence – Specific technical knowledge – Identification of tools to improve knowledge – Tools for assessing knowledge • Development of programmes for continuos Professional Development (CPD)

GFSI – Focus • Working group in place for 2 years reviewing auditor competence. • Developed a core set of skills and knowledge • Proposals being examined to formally assess auditor skills for qualification

The future for auditors? • There remains a shortage of good highly qualified auditors • We need a greater recognition for auditors – Recognised training path into auditing – Professional status – Financial rewards – Work life balance – Career progression

Questions?