Case Studies

Global Audit Standards Document Creation

2 minute read

The Client

Global foods manufacturer

The Challenge

The client, operating across multiple regions with a diverse supplier network, needed to unify its audit standards for co-packers, co-manufacturers, and suppliers into a single global framework aligned with FSSC 22000. Existing documentation was fragmented, US-centric, and inconsistent in both content and formatting, making it difficult to ensure alignment across international markets.

They faced several challenges:

• Disparate audit standards across regions and supplier types
• Limited internal bandwidth and expertise to lead a harmonization effort
• Inconsistent structure and formatting across legacy documents
• The need to align with global food safety standards and hygienic design principles

The project goal was to create a single, comprehensive global audit standard that consolidated existing materials, met global food safety requirements, and could be applied consistently across the organization’s supply chain.

The Solution

The client engaged Catena Solutions for the leadership, technical expertise, and structure needed to guide the process efficiently and ensure compliance with industry best practices. We led the development of a comprehensive audit standard document through a structured and collaborative approach:

• Project Kickoff & Meeting Coordination: Facilitated alignment among cross-functional stakeholders through weekly status meetings to maintain momentum.
• Technical Writer Support: Provided direction and oversight to the client’s assigned Technical Standards Writer, ensuring formatting consistency and content alignment.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Coordinated with internal SMEs to validate content and ensure operational relevance.
• Audit Standard Document: Developed a unified standard by consolidating multiple reference sources, aligning with FSSC 22000, and adding an appendix for hygienic design standards. The final document also incorporated additional international requirements beyond the original project scope.

Our team brought over 15 years of experience in food safety, quality, and compliance across food, dietary supplements, and pharmaceuticals, including hands-on expertise in FSSC 22000 implementation, supplier auditing, and FDA inspection readiness. This ensured the final document was not only globally compliant but also practical for day-to-day use.

The Benefit

The project delivered a single, standardized audit document applicable to all suppliers, co-packers, and co-manufacturers worldwide. The new standard:

• Provided clarity and consistency in audit expectations across the global supply chain
• Significantly reduced the time and effort spent managing and interpreting multiple documents
• Improved alignment with global food safety standards and hygienic design principles
• Strengthened internal collaboration and ownership of food safety documentation
• Created a scalable framework that can accommodate future appendices and plant-specific standards

“This is exactly what we needed to bring clarity and consistency to our audit process. The structure and leadership provided made all the difference,” said the client’s Senior Quality Assurance Leader.

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Facing any similar challenges? Contact us to discuss how Catena Solutions can help.