Having spent more than 3 decades in the food industry, and having worked with numerous food manufacturers, I have first-hand experience with the challenging times of today. In the last 12 years, the industry has experienced increasing regulatory standards, Global Food Safety Initiative “GFSI” updates, intensified safety legislation and other business conditions which have placed additional pressure on food and beverage manufacturers. The goal of these changes has always been to make food products safer for our families to consume. As a result of ongoing changes, frequent training is paramount to an organization’s success. However, in countless cases, Department Managers in processing plants, including Quality and Sanitation, have been stretched beyond their capabilities to address consistent and effective training of their employees.
Adding to that challenge now includes higher turnover rates, a labor shortage, and simply the lack of time. The consequences are significant and place the food we eat at risk. How can we help the industry more effectively train in this difficult environment? First, we need to define the various levels of support available from industry providers. The customer then needs to research their options and make an informed decision based on the realistic support that they require. As a consumer, I make choices based on trust, value, and service. Some individuals with the power to make supplier decisions including sanitation, may not fully understand what is at stake. Choosing the lowest price per gallon in an effort to save money may be tempting. In the end, the final spend may be significantly higher with little to no services or training offered. There is value to quality support. Who faces the customer and what the customer receives matters. Let’s review current options.
- A sanitation supplier delivers sanitation products (no help).
- A sanitation partner provides products and a monthly service report which may include data and limited hard-skill core training (some help).
- An Integrated Sanitation Specialist is a tenured and trained professional who provides quality products, relevant service, and training support. The training curriculum is vast and includes both hard and soft skill programs. This individual understands how their efforts can positively affect other departments and how to get all the pieces to fit. They understand that it involves getting to know the customer and having a better understanding of their vision, people, roles, regulatory challenges and KPIs (help).
Working with an Integrated Sanitation Specialist begins with a conversation and identifies the plant's training gaps through the eyes of every department. Importantly, this includes top-level management. A closer look at the way Sanitation is perceived in the plant is important. Food safety and production begin with effective sanitation. This shift needs to be agreed upon and supported from the top down.
- Prevention and appraisal costs must be adequately funded.
- Hygienic design of processing equipment and facility structural improvements need to be addressed.
It is important to understand that the sanitation workarounds can be far more expensive overall than solving the actual root cause. Sanitation simply cannot fix everything. Once we agree on these principles, it is now time to get to work.
Surveys and further interviews are conducted to confirm gaps and uncover additional information. Upper management, the Food Safety team, and the Integrated Sanitation Specialist, come together to review findings and form an agreement on prioritizing issues and important tasks. The action plan for the training component lays out the timeline, locations, multiple training format options, and a list of participants, beginning with Managers and Deputies (future leaders). Training should include both hard (technical) and soft (people) skills. Both are important in the development of our teams and future leaders.
Above we have mentioned the first two steps of the Training component within the Gain, Train, Sustain & Retain ("GTSR") formula. This methodical, no-nonsense plan’s intent is to conduct effective training which endures. There are activities within each component to guide a plant towards a change in culture and results.
Some recent studies suggest that up to 75% of food manufacturers will not only have difficulty in attracting talent, but also keeping them. At a time when labor is at a premium and resources are limited, we need to cultivate, motivate, and accommodate people. An Integrated Sanitation Specialist can help food and beverage manufacturers to build and sustain a successful sanitation program through the further development and satisfaction of their teams. As mentioned earlier, the added benefits to this type of business relationship drive well past the metrics of the sanitation department.
For more information on closing the gaps with your Sanitation Training Program, contact Rochester Midland Corporation at www.rochestermidland.com.