Ensuring food safety isn't just a regulatory box to check it's a business-critical function, especially when you're working toward ISO 22000 certification. As a food production company aiming to streamline compliance and enhance traceability, we decided to build an internal system that could simplify our food safety management processes. Here's how we did it.
The Challenge We Faced
Before developing the system, our food safety documentation was scattered across spreadsheets, paper forms, and email chains. Critical Control Points (CCPs), traceability logs, and audit documentation were time-consuming to manage and prone to errors. Audits were stressful, and the team often spent days gathering data. We needed a better way.
Our Tech Stack
We decided on a tech stack that was reliable, scalable, and easy to manage:
- Backend: Node.js
- Frontend: React
- Database: PostgreSQL
- Storage: AWS S3 for document uploads
- Automation: Custom cron jobs for alerts and backups
Key Features of the System
CCP Logging Module: Users can log temperature, humidity, and other CCP data in real time. Each entry is timestamped and user-tagged for accountability.
Audit Reports: Our system auto-generates audit-ready reports in PDF and Excel formats, making audit preparation a breeze.
Traceability Tracker: We created a batch-wise ingredient tracking module that links raw materials to finished products, ensuring full traceability.
Role-Based Access: Access controls ensure that only authorized personnel can view or edit specific data.
Non-Conformance Alerts: If a CCP reading falls outside the safe range, the system sends immediate alerts and logs the incident.
Development Journey
We started by mapping ISO 22000 clauses to features we could digitize. This helped us prioritize core functionalities. Weekly sprint meetings between developers and the QA/compliance team ensured that we built exactly what was needed. We rolled out the MVP in phases, starting with CCP logging, then adding traceability and reporting features.
Impact & Results
- Since launching the system, we've:
- Reduced audit preparation time by over 60%
- Improved data accuracy and accountability
- Enabled real-time monitoring of CCPs
- Made traceability faster and more reliable
Overall, the system empowered our food safety team and impressed external auditors during certification.
Tips for Others
If you're a food company looking to digitize your ISO 22000 compliance:
- Start with one process (like CCP logging)
- Get buy-in from your QA team early
- Use your ISO documentation as a functional blueprint
Want to Get ISO 22000 Certified?
If you're a food business in Pakistan aiming for ISO 22000 certification, we highly recommend checking out Qdot's ISO 22000 Certification in Pakistan. Their team provided the guidance and expertise we needed to make our compliance journey smooth and successful.
Conclusion
Building an internal system for ISO 22000 compliance not only made our processes more efficient—it also gave us a competitive edge in food safety and quality. Technology can be a powerful ally in regulatory compliance, and with the right approach, any food business can digitize its path to certification.
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