The outcome of this element is to ensure your establishment and all processing equipment are
running smoothly with minimal interruptions through an effective preventative maintenance program.
Your preventative maintenance program must include a schedule with a list of all equipment and machinery.
The schedule should incorporate a frequency
for when checks must be performed.
You must document a defined acceptance criteria for the checks
and the results of your performed checks must be recorded.
Your maintenance program should extend to all equipment and structures on site,
including transport vehicles.
Your program must also consider and implement controls to manage contamination
from faulty or damaged equipment or structures.
Any equipment which is no longer in use should be clearly identified
and removed from the area to prevent it becoming a source of contamination
to manufactured product.
You must ensure your instruments and devices used for monitoring activities
can provide accurate readings.
Therefore, the site must have a calibration procedure in place
which ensures all key equipment engaged in monitoring and recording activities
are operating as expected.
You will need to clearly define what equipment requires calibration,
how often, and the acceptance criteria.
Your procedures must define how the equipment is to be calibrated.
Where applicable, your procedure should include instructions
for how internal verification activities are performed on site,
how often and by whom.
You must clearly define who is responsible for verification or calibration activities
and any specific qualifications they require
to capably complete the task.
You will need to clearly identify and differentiate each piece of equipment.
For example, you may have several sets of identical scales,
so you will need to uniquely number or identify each
so that calibration documents can be tracked to the corresponding equipment.
If any equipment is not within the defined acceptable criteria,
corrective actions taken must be documented.
Any equipment which is out of calibration must be controlled
to ensure it is not accidentally used on site.
A successfully implemented maintenance and calibration program
will reduce the likelihood of equipment breakdowns
and minimize the risk of introducing hazards and contamination to your products
through faulty or poorly maintained equipment.