What is the definition of a Mock Recall?
A mock recall typically refers to an inventory-based traceability exercise. A product is selected and the organization conducts a complete tracking of the first ship to or all products used in, depending on if a raw material/ingredient is selected or a finished product or both. There are time and accountability goals – so ideally 100% of product is accounted for withing 2 hours.
What is the definition of a Recall Simulation?
A recall simulation tests the organization’s entire process, from receipt of the information that there may be a recall issue, through investigation, regulatory contact, media prep and response, etc. The simulation includes the mock recall elements as the product is traced with the same accountability and time goals. It challenges all roles and responsibilities of the recall team, ensures the plan is up to date and acts as a training tool.
A recall simulation involves a fictitious, but realistic, situation about one of your company’s products currently in the marketplace, created to test the Recall Team’s ability to efficiently and effectively conduct all aspects of a recall. The initial report of an incident is escalated into a true crisis situation as the simulation progresses. Because it involves “real” product, information and records, a realistic situation, and is conducted under time pressure, it is as close to a “real” recall as possible.
What is the difference between a Mock Recall and a Recall Simulation?
A lot-trace exercise (mock recall) tests a company’s ability to either forward trace a component from receipt to finished product or backward trace a component of a finished product back to the supplier. This exercise tests a company’s record keeping procedures and systems as well as the internal tracking systems for components and finished goods.
A Recall Simulation includes all aspects of a “real” recall situation, and it tests people, processes and systems. One of the most important parts of a Recall Simulation is it puts the team in a situation which allows it to proactively practice its recall process and see how well it follows its plan. RQA will engage the team in complex and emotionally charged activities, such as initial issue investigation with limited information, decision making as a team of unique individuals, lot-trace exercise and root cause analysis, while sifting through an over-abundance of information and records, all under extreme time pressures.
Conducting a mock recall twice a year is the basic assurance that inventory can be traced in the event of a recall. A recall simulation ensures that the organization is trained and ready to respond with a robust recall plan.
MockRecalls is a mock recall planning training and consulting program to test your recall readiness. We are purely focused on protecting your product investment by working with you to create a new recall plan or analyze your current recall plan and then put it through a mock recall or recall simulation test to insure you are prepared for a possible product recall. We use our on-demand SaaS based recall management platform that eliminates common mistakes manually conducting recalls, by automating the most tedious steps of a product recall. It is a simple to use platform that just focuses on handling product recalls quickly and efficiently. Through our mock recall training using our dedicated recall platform, companies can improve the recall process, increase response rates, and document and communicate with all stakeholders.
Our program can analyze your company’s readiness in many of the typical elements of the recall process including:
- Initiation, investigation, and communication process
- Recall working team and decision team composition and dynamics
- Team roles and responsibilities
- Process flow and lot traceability
- And retrieval capability and effectiveness checks
Our recall simulation program is conducted as an escalating model using real product facts and potential issues, with multiple inputs such as consumer complaints, social media, FDA/USDA/local health department and law enforcement. Conducting a recall simulation will also allow the recall team and all involved personnel to become familiar with their responsibilities throughout the recall procedure. This gives them time to effectively communicate any concerns about the plan while the company isn’t dealing with the pressure of an actual recall.
Looking to test your product recall readiness across your organization? MockRecalls will help create and/or test your recall program. Click here to learn more or call us!