By Linda Bryan,
CEO, Tamlin Software
If you’re a small- to mid-sized food manufacturer, you already know why it’s important to comply with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). But you might think it’s out of your reach, both in terms of what it will cost and what it will require in additional work and man hours.
Without ERP software, GFSI compliance can, in fact, be “challenging” to implement. It can saddle you with:
- More paperwork. Including spreadsheets and binders to track everything.
- Ongoing measurement and reporting. Which means time away from running your core business.
- More requirements. More labor. And more headaches. Including more details than ever before to satisfy audit and recall requirements.
- And finally, yes, despite its benefits, GFSI compliance will certainly create increased overhead if you don’t use an automated solution to assist you.
Why go it alone? ERP Software and GFSI Compliance can (and should) be integrated.
Like GFSI compliance, ERP software isn’t something most food manufacturing companies need to be convinced they need. The ability to track products from farm to fork, to trace them both backward and forward, to generate reports in a matter of minutes are tangible benefits to any food processor’s bottom line.
But there is a big difference between an automated solution that integrates GFSI compliance into a unified ERP software system, and one that is built with separate and/or manual systems. A fully integrated and automated system will give you access to the most accurate and timely information you need with the least amount of effort. Benefits include:
Fewer man hours and lower costs. Not only during the GFSI certification phase, but also in the ongoing audits you’ll need to maintain your certification.
- More brand protection. For you and your customers.
- More opportunities to get your foot in the door because many customers will only accept GFSI-certified vendors.
- FSMA compliance. Being GFSI certified goes a long way in preparation for the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
- Greater ability to satisfy customer specifications. Including customized processes and the ability to ensure on-time delivery.
With a fully integrated ERP software system, eliminating paperwork, long ramp-ups, and double- or even triple-entries are all possible during the certification process. Which, in bottom line terms, translates to greater ROI.