The Risks and Challenges of a Non-Digital Training Processes in Food Manufacturing

Welcome to the first installment of our four-part series on why you need to stay ever ready for audits in food manufacturing. Throughout this series, we'll explore strategies for food manufacturers to effectively ready themselves for audits by harnessing digital tools, ensuring robust safety standards, compliance, and transforming audits into streamlined processes at the click of a button. 

Each installment will focus on a different aspect of audit readiness and how to improve practices within your facility. In this first part, we’re delving into the risks and challenges associated with a non-digital training process in food manufacturing.  

Let's explore these risks and challenges in more detail to understand why transitioning to digital training systems is a necessary step for any food manufacturing facility looking to stay audit ready.   

1. Increased Time and Resource Expenditure
   
   Using paper tracking for onsite audit preparation often requires significant staff time and resources. In some cases, this can mean dedicating weeks to gathering and organizing documentation, leaving less time for other critical tasks such as food safety and HACCP management, quality control, and employee development.  Not to mention the impact of not having ever-ready documentation in the event of an OSHA related incident, workers compensation claim, or unscheduled audit.
    
2. Dependence on a Single Point of Failure  
   
   A non-digital process is often dependent on one person who holds all the knowledge and responsibility for managing paperwork or a spreadsheet. This sole reliance creates a vulnerability in your training and safety processes, as losing this individual can severely disrupt your operations.
   
   
3. Prompt Information Required by Auditors
   
   Food manufacturing facilities must provide prompt access to desired information during audits. Delays in providing this information can reflect poorly on your data management practices and give the impression of disorganization, which could harm your business's reputation and credibility in the eyes of the auditors. A well-prepared audit is a good audit.
   
   
4. Loss or Misplacement of Paper Records
   
   The world of food production is a very fast-paced one. Paper documents can easily get lost, misplaced, damaged or left incomplete. This lack of organization can hinder your audit preparation and compromise the quality, reliability, and security of your records. 
   
   
5. Lack of Security for Paper Documentation
   
   Paper documentation lacks security and protection, making it more susceptible to theft, damage, or unauthorized access. This can put sensitive employee information, training records, and critical data at risk. Paper documentation also creates an opportunity for potential bad actors to falsify or augment documentation leading to increased liability.
   
   
6. Language Barriers in Training Materials
   
   When employees receive training in a language other than their native one, their comprehension may be questionable. This can lead to gaps in health and safety knowledge increasing your risk of accidents or errors on the production floor such as foreign material or HACCP issues.  Digital means of training are often offered in many languages allowing you to help the learner become more competent, safer and limit your risk.   

Non-digital training presents numerous challenges that can hinder your ability to maintain a safe and efficient food production workplace. Transitioning to a digital system will help streamline operations, improve record-keeping, and protect your business from unnecessary risks. 

Our next installment will focus on how to digitize your OJT documentation.