10
Qu a l i t y A s s u r a n c e .
Fr om f a rm t o s h o p .
QS – Report 2012
Outlook 2013
The entire supply chain benefits from the additional
commitment, all the way from the producer to the
fruit and vegetables shelf.
Documented processes and assured
traceability
Checklists and supporting documents help
companies to implement the requirements.
Compliance is checked by independent certification
bodies and documentation to this effect can be
produced for presentation to customers. Traceability
along the entire chain makes it possible to compile
relevant information on deliveries quickly and
comprehensively. In the event of an incident, this
produces a clear picture of the flows of goods and
actual situation on-site.
Simple registration
Of particular importance during the development
of the standard was to ensure that it could also
be implemented by smaller companies with only a
few employees. Double certifications are avoided,
because the IFS Logistics Audit is entirely recognised
by QS.
Consistent quality assurance doesn’t stop at
transhipment stores or truck loading bays. Each link
in the supply chain must be able to rely on the others
and for this reason, the economic operators in the QS
scheme have developed a new standard. From this
year, freight forwarders and transport companies can
also obtain QS certification.
With the certificate, freight forwarders can document
inspected logistical processes and compliance with
all hygiene standards towards their customers.
This, in combination with fast and comprehensive
traceability of goods delivery channels, is the most
important prerequisite for gapless quality assurance.
Lean requirements catalogue
The requirements of the standard are summarised
in the
Guideline Wholesale/Logistics
.
They were
specially tuned to fruit and vegetables logistics
and focus on the areas of traceability and hygiene.
Experienced auditors have tested the standard for
its reliability and practicability. The result is a lean
set of requirements which supports companies in the
implementation of legally stipulated self-assessment.
Standard for logistics of fruit and vegetables
Breaking the mould for seamless quality assurance
“
The Godeland company has
been a QS scheme participant
since 2005. Even today, our own
logistics processes have been
certified by the QS wholesale
audit. With the new logistics
standard, our freight forwarders
can also have their compliance
with the quality standards for
the transport of fruit and vegetables confirmed by an
independent body.”
Thomas von Levern,
Head of Quality Assurance, Godeland
Vermarktungsgesellschaft mbH
“
The Nagel Group locations are certified
against the IFS logistics standard,
which means that they also satisfy the
requirements of the QS standard for
fruit and vegetables. We recommend
certification against QS particularly to
the smaller freight forwarders we work
with. The lean requirements catalogue is
specially tailored to the transport of fruit
and vegetables and takes into account the relevant themes of
hygiene and traceability.”
Hendrik Reinelt,
Head of Centralised Quality Management, Nagel Group