Gap Assessment Services

Gap Assessment Services – Identify Compliance Gaps Before Certification Audits

Aligned with SQF Edition 10, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, and GFSI Benchmarking Requirements

Preparing for a food safety certification audit or compliance assessment? Our Gap Assessment Services provide a comprehensive evaluation of your documentation, programs, implementation practices, and operational controls to identify deficiencies before they become audit findings.

Our expert-led assessments help your organization:

Strengthen compliance through objective evaluations and risk-based recommendations

Improve system effectiveness by identifying opportunities for continual improvement

Prepare for certification audits with clear action plans and greater confidence

Identify Gaps Before the Auditor Does

This program is designed to:

✓ Evaluate your current food safety management system against applicable certification requirements

✓ Identify compliance gaps, weaknesses, and implementation deficiencies

✓ Provide a clear roadmap to achieve certification readiness with confidence

Gap Assessment Roadmap

1. Documentation & Program Assessment

• Comprehensive review of food safety management system documentation

    • HACCP plans

    • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

    • Policies and procedures

    • Supporting records and documented information

• Assessment of prerequisite programs and operational controls

    • GMP programs

    • Sanitation controls

    • Allergen management programs

    • Supplier approval and monitoring processes

• Benchmarking against applicable certification requirements

Deliverables:

• Documentation Gap Assessment Report

• Compliance Benchmark Summary

• Initial Risk-Based Findings Register

2. Facility & Implementation Evaluation

• On-site or virtual assessment of operational implementation

    • Evaluation of actual practices against documented procedures

    • Assessment of operational consistency across departments

• Verification of employee understanding and program execution

    • Employee interviews and competency evaluation

    • Verification of training effectiveness and awareness

• Observation of production, sanitation, maintenance, storage, and process controls

    • Production operations and workflow controls

    • Sanitation and hygiene practices

    • Maintenance and preventive maintenance activities

    • Storage, handling, and process control implementation

• Review of monitoring, verification, corrective action, and recordkeeping activities

    • Monitoring program effectiveness

    • Verification and validation activities

    • Corrective action management

    • Recordkeeping and documentation practices

Deliverables:

• Facility Assessment Findings

• Operational Compliance Evaluation

• Implementation Verification Summary

3. Gap Analysis & Readiness Planning

• Consolidation and analysis of all assessment findings

    • Review of documentation, implementation, and operational assessment results

    • Identification of recurring themes and systemic weaknesses

• Classification of gaps based on compliance risk and audit impact

    • Critical, major, and minor gap categorization

    • Evaluation of potential certification and regulatory risks

• Prioritized corrective action recommendations

    • Risk-based corrective action prioritization

    • Practical recommendations for system improvement

• Development of certification readiness roadmap

    • Defined action plan with implementation priorities

    • Milestones to support certification preparedness

Deliverables:

• Comprehensive Gap Analysis Report

• Corrective Action Prioritization Matrix

• Certification Readiness Improvement Plan

Service Tiers & Pricing

Service Description Investment Action
Remote Gap Assessment Comprehensive document review with virtual consultation to identify compliance gaps $1,500 / Facility Subscribe
On-Site Gap Assessment Thorough 2–4 day in-person facility review to assess readiness and identify risks (travel/lodging not included) $4,700 Subscribe
Follow-Up Support Ongoing virtual support to refine documentation, implement corrections, or prepare for audits Custom Quote Subscribe

Pricing may vary depending on facility size and process complexity.

Program Structure

The Gap Assessment Program is tailored to your facility size, certification objectives, product category, and operational complexity. Assessments may be conducted remotely, on-site, or through a hybrid approach depending on your organization's needs, available resources, and certification goals. Our approach provides a practical evaluation of your food safety management system, helping identify gaps, assess implementation effectiveness, and establish a clear path toward certification readiness and continual improvement.

Key Certification Focus Areas Integrated

✓ Food Safety Management Systems – Evaluation of system structure, implementation, and overall effectiveness

✓ HACCP & Risk Assessment – Verification of hazard analysis, risk evaluation, and preventive control programs

✓ Operational Implementation – Confirmation that documented procedures are effectively implemented throughout operations

✓ Documentation & Record Control – Review of document management practices, records, and supporting compliance evidence

✓ Internal Audit Readiness – Identification of vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and potential non-conformities before certification audits

✓ Continuous Improvement – Action plans and recommendations designed to strengthen long-term compliance and system performance

What Sets This Program Apart

✓ Multi-Standard Expertise – Experience supporting SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, and GFSI certification programs

✓ Objective Assessment Approach – Independent evaluations focused on identifying actual compliance gaps, implementation weaknesses, and system risks

✓ Risk-Based Prioritization – Findings ranked according to food safety significance, compliance impact, and certification risk

✓ Practical Recommendations – Clear, actionable guidance designed to improve system effectiveness, strengthen compliance, and enhance audit readiness

Program Commitments

✓ Comprehensive System Evaluation – Documentation, implementation practices, and operational controls assessed to identify compliance gaps and improvement opportunities

✓ Actionable Findings – Practical, risk-based recommendations provided rather than generic observations or audit-style comments

✓ Certification Readiness Focus – Designed to reduce audit surprises, strengthen preparedness, and minimize potential non-conformities

✓ Continuous Improvement Support – Clear roadmap developed to support ongoing system enhancement and long-term compliance success

Build Confidence Before Your Certification Audit

Your certification journey should begin with a clear understanding of your system strengths, weaknesses, and compliance risks. Our Gap Assessment Services provide the insight needed to prioritize improvements, strengthen controls, and prepare for audit success.

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"Don't let the certification audit reveal your weaknesses—identify and correct them first with Food Safety Systems."

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