Sanitation Process Control

Sanitation is the first line of defense for any food manufacturer. They must implement food safety and sanitation measures to ensure that their processing plants remain audit-ready and compliant with stringent USDA regulations. However, despite their expertise in production and logistics, these plants often struggle with sanitation due to inadequate staff and the lack of strategic training programs.

Lawsuits. Failed Audits. Food recalls. Injuries. These are the things which haunt food manufacturing companies.

Sanitation Process Control (SPC) steps in as a reliable partner for this critical need, offering high-quality sanitation services designed for food processing plants.

It leverages cutting-edge processes and techniques to develop and implement sanitation programs that align with food safety guidelines, ensuring total readiness for USDA audits and inspections. Companies can feel confident about maintaining residue-free processing lines at the start of each production shift.

“We leverage over 30 years of diverse experience to provide continuous sanitation programs for our client’s ongoing success,” says Gonzalo De La Cruz, president at SPC.

A One-Stop Ally for Everything Sanitation

SPC began as a sanitation consultant for food manufacturers and has expanded its services to cover a diverse clientele, including meat and poultry plants, protein and fresh-cut produce suppliers, as well as processing units for greens, almonds, dairy, and other food products.

Customer service excellence is at the core of SPC’s guiding standards. This excellence is achieved through a talented team of personnel who are rigorously trained in sanitation procedures. Fueled by their accountability, SPC delivers a carefully designed, 8-step process to boost its clients’ hygiene standards to new levels.

The first and crucial step of sanitation is dry pickup. Acknowledging the nuanced demands of dry ingredient processes, SPC embraces a robust dry pickup process as a foundation for subsequent steps.

The next stage involves the first rinse. In environments like a protein facility, using hot water during the first rinse proves indispensable, as it directly influences the nature of the sanitation procedure, distinguishing between a straightforward and complex process. SPC utilizes specialized equipment to set the optimal water temperature, pressure, and valve settings to efficiently eliminate debris from the processing area.

The third step is the precise application of detergent, considering the distinct chemistry required for varied surfaces. The choice of detergent plays a crucial role in effective fat scrubbing or dirt removal from galvanized materials, metal panels, flooring, and other surfaces.

In the following rinse and inspection process, SPC incorporates ample techniques using tools and other indicators to ensure a thorough cleanse.

In the fifth step, the pre-operational phase, a thorough evaluation is conducted using advanced tools like ATP testing meters. After a complete pre-op, the team moves on to the sanitizing stage, employing agents like sanitizer, quaternary ammonium or hydrogen peroxide.

The last step involves reassembling equipment and a final round of sanitization. In the final phase, the company meticulously documents the entire sanitation process, a prerequisite for compliance with USDA audits, recalls and investigations.

“The approaches we follow ensure we are prepared to resolve every sanitation safety issue our clients face,” says Cruz.

Clients also receive value-added assistance in optimizing their cleaning chemicals and support with equipment issues at their facilities.

A recent scenario involved a midsized company facing challenges related to their sanitation chemical usage, which led to significant expenses. The SPC team assessed the project and chose the right chemicals for a complete, cost-effective cleaning process. Subsequently, the client was able to resolve the issue and save a substantial amount of money.

The hallmark of SPC’s continued success is the safe and timely delivery of clean production equipment and facilities. Customers rely on SPC’s expertise in sanitation. This results in improvements to operational efficiencies, the decrease/elimination of production downtime and significant cost savings.

SPC is also adept at leading crisis management efforts. Having worked with domestic and international food manufacturing companies, both privately held and publicly traded, the internal management has instantaneous access to industry-leading experts to assess and assist clients during emergency situations.

A Guide to a Successful Audit

SPC’s carefully regulated sanitation processes are supported by a strong employee safety training model. Teaming up with industry giants like Alchemy and strong HRIS systems, the company provides its staff with an immersive learning experience via videos and demonstrations to prevent injuries during cleaning. Enforcing these industry-best practices has continuously guaranteed recordable, years of accident free (recordable) success.

SPC only partners with companies that prioritize the safety of their employees, consumers, and the food they produce, resulting in long-term relationships.

In tandem with its commitment to sanitation proficiency, SPC provides extensive documentation to help clients prepare for the USDA regulatory inspection. The audit process begins with the firm’s executive management personally visiting and inspecting the customer’s facility.

Drawn to SPC’s wealth of experience in audits and inspections, food manufacturers, ranging from startups to established companies, rely on its expertise for their auditing challenges. Many have maintained their partnership for years due to the efficacy of its innumerable scheduled and surprise audits that result in elevated overall sanitation standards.

In one instance, SPC was entrusted with assisting a food manufacturer that had failed an audit. In just 48 hours, the firm’s executive management was on-site with a plan to rectify the nonconformities in the audit and sanitation program. The client is expected to pass the follow-up audit soon and secure a contract with a national warehouse retailer. These quick and decisive initiatives attest to SPC’s pragmatic approach to audit success.

Legacy of Excellence

A blend of experienced leadership and a dedicated workforce forms a critical part of SPC’s infrastructure. Their hunger for knowledge and in-depth experience in developing and fine-tuning sanitation standard operating procedures results in consistent improvement.
Individual and group accountability are SPC’s core principles. From the sanitation employees to the upper echelons, the company encourages a collaborative environment where every member takes responsibility for maintaining client satisfaction. While no organization can operate without making mistakes, it openly embraces the opportunity to learn from them and acknowledge and incorporate the lessons into remediation processes.

The driving forces behind SPC are divisional managers whose expertise and guidance shape the workforce’s trajectory. Its skilled HR department hires the right candidates who can fulfill their responsibilities from day one.

Having achieved steady growth in California, Nevada and Arizona, SPC is set to transcend state borders and expand its presence across the U.S. to guarantee the highest quality sanitation services for an expanding clientele.

Laser focus on food safety and employee training positions SPC as the premiere choice for businesses seeking to begin their sanitation journey or strengthen their existing operation. SPC is setting new benchmarks in the multi-faceted food manufacturing paradigm.

Contact Information: 510-909-4910
Website: saniprocess.com