At the end of the first
quarter of 2020 our lives radically
changed, affecting how we conducted our personal, social and work
activities.
From one moment to the next, the normal ways of relating, communicating
and
working with one another took a 360 degree turn and we were left facing
realities and restrictions that we have not faced for many years.
Over the last two decades
agro-industrial certification
processes have not only been internationalized, they have also
consolidated and
become the fundamental engine of development for thousands of small,
medium and
large products all over the world. However, the covid-19 pandemic put in
check
the control and monitoring systems carried out by the certifying
agencies
through inspection visits or audits of certified production processes,
which in
many cases were not prepared to assume a system other than on-site
verification
of certification standards
Like many other
activities, the pandemic forced the
certification system to implement policies and procedures for remote
virtual
audits. This is, of course, a revolution in certification processes,
where
face-to-face inspection was, until a year ago, a sine qua non condition
for
certifying a process or product.
At Daabon Group, 100% of
our production and export activities
are subject to international, organic and socio- environmental
certification
systems, which is why we have experienced the new way of carrying out
certification audits, both external and internal, first hand. After a
year of
having become accustomed to the new way of doing things we can, based on
our
experience, say that the remote audit process has its pros and its cons.
From our point of view,
the advantages or benefits of a
remote audit include allowing the continuity of the certification
processes
through the use of technology, a reduction in the overall costs and
times
required for audit, and the requirement for an improved document keeping
and
tracking system, especially in terms of historical records. Furthermore,
remote
audits strengthen teamwork, allowing managerial, technical-
administrative and
operational personnel to prepare and participate simultaneously with the
rest
of the company. This ensures all staff acquire first-hand knowledge of
the
importance of audits and their own responsibilities in their grander
context.
However, the process has
its downside and the preparation,
attention, development and final closure of a remote audit is extremely
resource heavy on companies as there are many factors, some external to
the
organization, that must coincide so that the results are positive.
Firstly, it
is absolutely essential that you have a technology system and equipment
that
allows and guarantee interactive communication without disruption or
issue. The
number of documents required is excessively greater, putting at risk the
handling of confidential operational information sent to and through a
virtual
platform. In some cases where the use of a translator is necessary, some
certifiers require that a third party conduct the translation, which
means that
the information is disclosed to external parties.
Despite the difficulties
presented and the number of
practices and methods that had to be adjusted, corrected, created and /
or
implemented, DAABON was able to renew all its certifications without
problem.
This included the organic standards of Europe, Japan, USA, China, Korea,
Switzerland and Colombia, as well as the socio-environmental
certifications of
Rainforest Alliance, RSPO, Fair Trade, Global GAP, Kosher and HALAL,
among
others. Our commercial offices abroad were therefore able to serve their
clients in a timely manner with all the up-to-date documentary support
required, guaranteeing the corresponding certification status of our
products
in the destination countries.
The process has not been
easy or straightforward, but DAABON
has made a huge effort to fine-tune and adapt our certified production
processes, according to the circumstances and demands of the
certification
agencies and authorities to which we are voluntarily subjected. To this
end,
the training system has been strengthened and the necessary equipment
acquired
to respond responsibly, efficiently and effectively to this new
challenge.