Blogs Food / Agriculture


Why Quality Placebo Shapes How A Product Is Judged
Why Quality Placebo Shapes How A Product Is Judged
A quality product or service is essential, but that alone is not enough, because customers also judge what they buy through signals that shape their expectations and emotions.
Why Standardization Fails: “Original Sins” That Turn Certification Into a Lie
Why Standardization Fails: “Original Sins” That Turn Certification Into a Lie
Standardization often fails for the same recurring reasons, and a new analysis revisits these “original sins” that weaken quality systems from the start.
Six Red Flags in Certification Readiness You Should Not Ignore
Six Red Flags in Certification Readiness You Should Not Ignore
Certification readiness matters because a management system must work in real operations, not only in documents.
Expert Offers Guidance to Newcomers: Things I Wish I Had Known at the Start of My Quality Career
Expert Offers Guidance to Newcomers: Things I Wish I Had Known at the Start of My Quality Career
Pankaj Bhatia, a quality leader with more than 28 years of experience in medical devices and automotive, shares valuable insider lessons for newcomers to the profession.
When the Quality Manager Goes Silent, the System Is Already Failing
When the Quality Manager Goes Silent, the System Is Already Failing
Mercy Kagendo, Head of QAFS at Farmer’s Choice Limited and Plant Operations Manager at Choice Meats Limited, shares a personal reflection on what it truly means when a quality manager stops speaking up.
When Reviewers Become Technical Previewers, Audit Impartiality Is Compromised
When Reviewers Become Technical Previewers, Audit Impartiality Is Compromised
Cornelis van Elst, Founder of QAssurance, warns in his blog post that impartiality in certification audits is being compromised as technical reviewers become “technical previewers”.
Lost in Translation: Making Quality Speak the Language of Business
Lost in Translation: Making Quality Speak the Language of Business
Quality professionals often struggle to show their real impact because they focus on procedures instead of outcomes, writes Lokman Hossain in his blog post.
When Buying QMS Software, Implementation Makes the Difference
When Buying QMS Software, Implementation Makes the Difference
Buying quality management system (QMS) software can save time, money, and risk - if implemented correctly.
Knowing How to Ask Questions Turns Audits Into Collaboration
Knowing How to Ask Questions Turns Audits Into Collaboration
Consultant and auditor Agata Lewkowska, Ph.D., from QualityWise, reflects on how the tone and phrasing of audit questions can decide whether an audit builds trust or tension.
When Certification Bodies Cross the Line Between Auditor and Advisor
When Certification Bodies Cross the Line Between Auditor and Advisor
When certification bodies provide gap analyses, pre-audits, or training, they risk compromising their impartiality and creating conflicts of interest.
Time to Rethink the Global Claim of GFSI Standards
Time to Rethink the Global Claim of GFSI Standards
Cornelis van Elst, Founder of QAssurance and its iMIS Food compliance operating system, challenges the long-held belief that Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards form a true global baseline for food safety.
Bad Decisions Are the Real Cause of Quality Issues
Bad Decisions Are the Real Cause of Quality Issues
Quality expert Ekaterina Potemkina, who advises organizations on transforming their quality management systems into reliable delivery systems,
True Quality Leader Is More Like an Architect Than a Firefighter
True Quality Leader Is More Like an Architect Than a Firefighter
Most quality leaders spend their time reacting to problems, but true progress comes from designing systems that prevent them,
Standardization 2.0: How Integrated Leadership Turns Standards Into Practice
Standardization 2.0: How Integrated Leadership Turns Standards Into Practice
Many companies still view standards and certifications as proof of success, but such an approach is hollow without active leadership.
8 Reasons Why HSEQ Management Systems Meet Their Demise
8 Reasons Why HSEQ Management Systems Meet Their Demise
Diana Parisi, Director and Principal Consultant at JUMP Consulting, shares a sharp and creative reflection on why many HSEQ (Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality) management systems fail.
Debunking the Top Five Myths About Accreditation
Debunking the Top Five Myths About Accreditation
Accreditation is often seen as rigid, bureaucratic, or focused on perfection, but in reality, it plays a vital role in ensuring trust, quality, and accountability across industries.
Real-Time Oversight Makes Store Brands Leaders in Food Safety
Real-Time Oversight Makes Store Brands Leaders in Food Safety
Store brands are now setting the benchmark in food safety and transparency thanks to real-time data sharing and built-in safety design,
Why Carbon Pricing Needs Cooperation, Not Competition on Data Standards
Why Carbon Pricing Needs Cooperation, Not Competition on Data Standards
Robert Eccles, Chair of KKR’s Sustainability Expert Advisory Council and former Harvard professor,
Ghost Processes: Turning Hidden Risks Into Opportunities for Improvement
Ghost Processes: Turning Hidden Risks Into Opportunities for Improvement
Many organizations run on two management systems: the official one in the manual and the real one people use every day.
Don’t Panic! Four Ways to Ace an Audit Without Preparation
Don’t Panic! Four Ways to Ace an Audit Without Preparation
An unplanned audit can feel like a nightmare, but Gillet Friedrich, Managing Director and consultant at OPTIQUM, reminds readers that it’s no reason to panic.
In Audits Like in Courtrooms, Evidence Makes or Breaks the Case
In Audits Like in Courtrooms, Evidence Makes or Breaks the Case
A blog post by Perfect ConneXions, a business consulting and services company based in Chesterfield, England, draws a striking parallel between ISO audits and courtroom trials.
Small Companies, Big Lessons for Food Safety Professionals
Small Companies, Big Lessons for Food Safety Professionals
Food safety and quality expert Jarmain Mkandla, Director of Quality at Safenel Group, shares a personal perspective urging professionals not to focus solely on big-name employers.
A Future Without Food Audits: Certification Set for Major Shift
A Future Without Food Audits: Certification Set for Major Shift
Food safety and quality expert Ir. Cornelis van Elst, owner of QAssurance, predicts that traditional food certification models will soon be replaced by continuous, data-driven assurance systems.
Watch How Auditors Assess Multisite Quality Systems under IATF 16949
Watch How Auditors Assess Multisite Quality Systems under IATF 16949
The International Automotive Oversight Bureau (IAOB) and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) released a new video explaining how multisite audits are performed under IATF 16949,
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