Supplier Management Software: Ease FSMA Concerns & Centralize Supplier Info

Suppliers are critical to any company operating in the food industry, and managing yours effectively unlocks a host of benefits for both you and the consumers you serve. That's especially true as the deadline for complying with the final traceability rule outlined in section 204 of the Food Safety & Modernization Act (FSMA) nears, and consumers increasingly expect transparency about what they're putting on their plates.

Like most business-critical aspects of running a company, investing in managing your supplier relationships to ensure compliance is both essential to your long-term success and can be difficult to implement effectively. Here are some of the most common:

• Understanding the requirements outlined in FSMA 204 and determining if they apply to you
• Creating and managing up-to-date supplier audit and compliance records
• Getting away from multiple platforms or disparate systems to a "single source of truth" 

The good news is that with the right approach, tools, and technology — like supplier management software — any company can overcome these challenges. Here's how:

Manage FSMA 204 Concerns & Meet Recordkeeping Requirements

When the final traceability rule takes full effect, will you be able to provide the required records and documentation to the FDA within 24 hours of a request? You must demonstrate your food safety plan, verify your supply chain partners, and show that you captured the relevant data for each Critical Tracking Event (CTE). If your records exist across spreadsheets and different platforms, you may not be able to find what you need in time, or you may find gaps in data capture that result in noncompliance. 

Get the Guide: Complying with FSMA 204

With dedicated supplier management software, your company can create workflows around supplier documentation, verification, and required recordkeeping. A platform that allows you to maintain and manage a community of your suppliers and monitor compliance across your entire supply chain is ideal, and one that allows you to easily export to an electronic sortable spreadsheet (ESS) that the FDA requires for traceability records is even better. 

Streamline Supplier Audits & Compliance Records

Supplier audits are a vital component of any supplier management program, just as increased visibility into the compliance and safety practices of your supply chain is key to managing risk. When accessing this information is straightforward and drilling down into it is simplified, you'll be able to more easily monitor supplier performance, communicate outstanding to-dos, and take corrective action.

Read More: 5 Ways to Ensure Better Audit Results

Look for software that is highly customizable, allowing you to configure rules, dashboards, and workflows that ensure your company's specific food safety and quality guidelines are being met, whether internal teams have set them our third-party auditors. Finally, supplier management software that can be accessed via a mobile app or web-based platform makes all this information actionable so you and your suppliers can work quickly and collaboratively to resolve issues when necessary.

Create a Single Source of Truth for Supplier Information

Having a snapshot of your entire supply chain in a single platform is a key component of a modern food safety plan. When information for all of your suppliers is organized into a single community, you can monitor all of them using the same standards, audits, and certification requirements. Perform root-cause analyses to identify opportunities to improve in your supply chain or with specific suppliers, and then work collaboratively to address those opportunities.

The long-term result is a safer, more streamlined supply chain with benefits and better outcomes for you, your suppliers, and your customers. FoodLogiQ Compliance makes it easy to manage and improve your ongoing supply chain processes, including onboarding, supplier performance, documentation, and communication.

FoodLoqiQ: The Comprehensive Supplier Management Software Solution

FoodLogiQ Compliance helps food industry leaders and teams effectively manage and monitor supplier relationships throughout their lifecycle, from onboarding to ongoing engagement with advanced data tools and mobile accessibility features. With FoodLogiq, you can quickly communicate supplier expectations, requirements, and stay on top of required recordkeeping and messages to reduce the time needed to access necessary documentation from hours to minutes. 

Read More: The 3 C's of Strong Supplier Relationships: Compliance, Collaboration & Confidence

Take our exclusive Supplier Scorecards, for instance.  This tool allows FoodLogiQ users to monitor supplier performance at a glance by leveraging data collected from various sources, including audits, incident documentation, and custom variables. It's just one component of FoodLogiQ's data-driven approach, enabling collaboration, improving compliance, and building stronger, more sustainable supplier relationships.

Want to see what else you can do with FoodLogiQ? Contact us to schedule a personalized demo today.