This course is designed to guide companies through the development of standards and the design of an audit in verifying the cold chain is working in assuring optimal quality and minimal waste. This course is relevant to companies of all sizes as cold chain standards are evolving into a regulatory tool and a supplier and retailer specific requirement. We strongly recommend that the Cold Chain Management course is taken prior to the Cold Chain Assessment and Audit or Cold Chain Integration courses.

• Food Processing Distribution, Logistics and Supply Chain Managers and Director Levels
• Food Processing Quality Control and Assurance Managers and Director Levels
• Logistics Providers and Transport Company Personnel
• Food Service Distribution Companies Operations, Logistics and Quality Personnel
• Specialty Foodservice Retail Operations, Distribution and Quality Personnel
• Grocery Retailer Operations, Distribution and Quality Personnel
• Mass Merchandiser, Drug Store Chains and Discount Store Chains
• Operations, Distribution and Quality Personnel
• Life Sciences Operations, Logistics and Quality Personnel
• Seaport/Airport shipping Personnel
• Packinghouse/Packaging Personnel
• Education/Extension Personnel
• Representatives of Regulatory and Inspection Agencies
• Economic Development Representatives of Countries

Module 1: The components of the audit.

• Overview of policies, practices and controls in place
• Identifying and defining standards of performance
• Monitoring and verifying sections of the audit
• Designing the audit – what and how to audit

Module 1 Working Group Exercises: Develop a process map identifying the critical components of the cold chain and related risks at each step. 

Module 1 Demonstrations/Displays: Provide general outline on how a cold chain audit

Learning objectives:

The participants will gain a deeper appreciation for the cold chain process with particular emphasis being placed on critical points where products can be compromised and associated effects on quality and shelf life/

Module 2: Developing the Audit 

• Converting the cold chain process into an audit
• Mapping the audit process
• Quantifying – weighting, rating and ranking of audit questions/areas
• Using the audit as a management tool

Module 2 Working Group Exercises:  Illustrate the major components of the audit with weightings and ranks.

Module 2 Demonstrations/Displays: Simulate how the audit works with various scenarios of selected observations, findings and scores.  Does the audit work as intended?

Learning objectives:

• The participants will better understand the sequence of the audit from monitoring to verification
• Participants will gain awareness of system wide linkages that will contribute to product adulteration
• Participants will understand how the cold chain performs using the audit tool against product specifications

Module 3: Developing and Applying the Audit for Your Cold Chain

• Customizing a cold chain audit and assessment for your operations
• Considerations for internal auditing or a third-party program
• Applying and leveraging the value of the audit against GFSI certification
• Validating the audit score reflects actual performance

Module 3 Demonstrations/Displays: Presenting the audit with the breadth and depth in capturing system performance and a scoring mechanism that relevant to actual performance.

Learning objectives:

• Participants will have an audit that can be applied to their operations
• Participants will be able to rate their own operations
• Participants will be able to provide corrective actions

Student will each be provided a course notebook.

• David Sterling
• Jane Griffith
• Nick Pacitti

This course is required for the Cold Chain Management Certificate.

This course may be applied toward the Supply Chain & Logistics Certificate.