After the Pandemic: Which Parts of the Audit Stay Remote?
Remote auditing started as an emergency measure. By late 2021, certification schemes had begun to define when a blended audit, part remote and part on site, is an acceptable permanent option.
Key points
- A blended audit combines a remote review of documents with an on-site visit for operations.
- Scheme owners set the rules; not every scheme or every audit type allows it.
- The on-site part remains essential for anything that depends on observation.
What works remotely
- Review of policies, procedures and records
- Interviews with managers and support functions
- Review of complaints, internal audits and management review
- Opening and closing meetings
What needs to be seen on site
Hygiene, housekeeping, behaviour on the line, the condition of buildings and equipment, segregation and flow cannot be judged reliably through a camera. For that reason food safety schemes that accept blended audits still require the production audit to be carried out on site.
Getting the benefit
A blended audit reduces travel and can make the on-site days more focused, but only when documents are organised and easy to share. Agree the split with the certification body in advance, and treat the remote part with the same discipline as an on-site audit.