SQFI Implements Data Analytics for Increased Visibility of Food Safety Trends

By Carey Allen, Vice President, Business Development & Strategy

The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of FMI, partnered with Intact, the makers of Intact Analytics and the Intact Platform, to establish a data analytics tool to help SQFI manage its certification integrity process with the added value of providing data insights to help manufacturers and brand owners improve performance in food safety management systems.  

SQFI develops and manages the SQF Food Safety Codes and certification integrity program for the production and handling of food across the food supply chain, working with approved third-party certification bodies who deliver the certification activities to individual sites.  

Utilizing the SQFI Repositrak assessment database of thousands of audit results conducted annually across 30+ food sector categories, SQFI and Intact partnered to glean data for trend analysis and reporting to monitor key performance indicators relating to certification processes and site performance.   

SQFI uses the data reporting tools to evaluate and benchmark certification body and auditor performance key metrics for service level and rigor. The data provide evidence of discrepancy in audit duration or score trends year to year that may indicate a need for training and calibration of the sites or the auditors. Resource capacity analysis allows SQFI to partner with CBs to proactively identify trends toward future demand for auditors in different sectors. This kind of visibility for demand planning is key to the preparation and training of the future auditor pool to ensure adequate recruiting and training coverage in the needed food sector categories.  

The analyses provided by the SQFI baseline population insights and the ability to flag anomalies allow SQFI to offer exceptional value to its Certification Body partners and certified sites to implement continuous improvement measures and improve operational performance.  

The SQFI Food Safety and Quality Codes are systems-oriented standards built to support the continuous maintenance of strong food safety and quality management systems. SQFI believes the insights provided by its new predictive analysis capabilities bring the next level of service to SQF certified operations that are looking to improve performance through lean operating principles with advanced quality management systems.   

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