As the largest integrated dairy foods company in the world, Almarai produces and markets high quality fresh dairy food products throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In managing their quality management system (QMS), Almarai has chosen Q-Pulse Enterprise Edition from Gael Ltd.
By supporting QMS processes including Document Control Audit and CA/PA Management, Q-Pulse has helped Almarai to reduce the time spent managing document approvals from weeks to less than 48 hours, as well as to continually improve the quality of their systems and processes.
The Challenge
In implementations across multiple national or international sites, Q-Pulse Enterprise Edition provides a robust, scalable compliance management solution that enables food manufacturers to extend their QMS throughout the supply chain by giving staff, suppliers and customers access to information on demand.
"We selected Enterprise Edition to help us to demonstrate compliance with standards including ISO 22000, to reduce our exposure to risk, and to identify opportunities to continually improve," explains Khaja Lashkari, Quality Systems Manager at Almarai.
"Q-Pulse has helped us to optimise performance, resources and productivity, as well as to promote a culture of continuous improvement."
As a result of the company's rapid growth, Almarai were managing more than 6000 documents manually using a paper-based system. "There were numerous drawbacks to managing so many documents with a manual system," says Mr. Lashkari. "It was very difficult to track, often taking weeks to obtain approval of paper-based documents such as packaging artwork, and documents used to get lost."
As well as enabling faster approvals, Q-Pulse has helped staff at Almarai to reduce the time and effort spent managing the document management process: documents are now more efficiently organised and more effectively stored, and finding and retrieving the correct document is now faster and easier.
The Solution
Now, Almarai use Q-Pulse to manage document handling at three of its main divisions. And with more than 6000 documents, Q-Pulse has quickly become integral to their document management process, particularly in obtaining approvals on final recipe, packaging artwork and final product documents.
"Q-Pulse's integrated workflow management system has come in very handy in managing our packaging artwork approval protocol, as well as our protocols for chemical and recipe approvals," explains Mr. Lashkari. "With Q-Pulse, it's now easy to track the status of documents, as well as approvers' comments."
"This has enabled us to radically reduce the time spent obtaining approvals on artwork – from weeks to less than 48 hours."
As well as enabling faster approvals, Q-Pulse has helped staff at Almarai to reduce the time and effort spent managing the document management process: documents are now more efficiently organised and more effectively stored, and finding and retrieving the correct document is now faster and easier.
"Q-Pulse Enterprise will enable our five main divisions throughout the GCC, including our sales depots in remote areas and even our suppliers in other countries, to respond directly to non-compliances raised to them through its web interface," says Mr. Lashkari.
"With Q-Pulse, information is now available at the touch of a button," says Mr. Lashkari. "Managing QMS information is much more convenient using highly customisable reports and powerful search functionality. This also has the effect of improving employee morale and helps us to be more efficient and effective."
Future development of the system within Almarai includes integrating Q-Pulse with other internal systems, which include SAP, their laboratory information management system (LIMS), and customer complaint handling system. In addition, Almarai plan on deploying Q-Pulse in other geographical locations, including their Farming and Sales divisions, as well as other Gulf countries.
"With Q-Pulse, it's now easier to ensure that due diligence has been performed, the management system is more easily auditable and ensuring our compliance with ISO is easier," concludes Mr. Lashkari. "And with Enterprise Edition, we will be able to integrate the QM systems throughout Almarai, as well as to maintain compliance with both our internal and ISO systems."
The Result
In the food industry, compliance with regulations and standards is vital in maintaining and improving the quality and safety of products. Standards such as ISO 22000 require manufacturers to manage quality and safety in order to ensure the consistent delivery of safe, legal and wholesome products.
By managing compliance with regulations and standards with solutions such as Q-Pulse, food manufacturers can demonstrate regulatory compliance on demand, as well as assure customers, regulatory authorities and certification bodies of the quality and safety of products available.
At Almarai, Q-Pulse has helped to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their document management process. By reducing cycle times in managing documents with Q-Pulse, Almarai have radically reduced the time spent obtaining approvals on artwork from weeks to less than 48 hours.
By managing non-compliance handling with Q-Pulse, Almarai have accelerated the outcome of corrective actions. Q-Pulse has also enabled Almarai to improve the analysis of their quality management system information, which is helping to continually improve the quality of their systems and processes.