The operations department plays a pivotal role in the product recall process. Recall notices might require organizations to change production processes for public safety reasons, and operations personnel facilitate these changes. For successful recall management, the operations team works with other departments to remove dangerous and faulty products. So how does the operations department role in a mock recall to test recall readiness?
In this edition of our series about the true impact of product recalls on organizations, we consider the role of the operations department, and how recall readiness with mock recall planning prevent your department from being caught off guard, and how utilizing the latest digital tools can help employees carry out vital recall tasks.
What Does the Operations Department Do in a Product Recall Situation?
The recently published FDA Guidance is imploring companies to be ‘Recall Ready’.
Product recalls are becoming increasingly common, affecting all organizations in various industries. When product managers receive information about faulty products and materials, they often look to production pipelines, which can pose multiple risks to the public. Often, managers will halt the production of affected products, and operations teams ensure this all happens safely.
We’ve talked about the importance of speedy recall responses in this blog series, and nobody knows this better than the operations department. Operations employees must remove threats from production processes quickly so supply chains can start. Also, fast product recall responses reduce the risks associated with public safety issues, government penalties, and lawsuits.
In a product recall situation, operations teams work closely with many departments to facilitate workflows. These departments include the legal, logistics, and production teams. Operations personnel need to make quick decisions that reduce risk while keeping production processes running smoothly. This can be a monumental challenge, especially with the wrong technologies.
Why Do Operations Teams Need Mock Recall Planning and Can Digital Tools Help?
The FDA recently published its final guidance outlining steps companies should take to develop recall policies and procedures that include training, planning, exercises, and record-keeping to help significantly reduce the time a recalled product remains on the market.
The FDA guidance describes an array of best practices for creating, testing, and executing a recall plan. Because of the FDA’s heightened expectations, along with the greater risk and complexity involved in today’s recalls, training – including regular mock recall exercises – has become an essential part of the recall preparation process.
It is imperative that your organization plan, train and test for a product recall. This includes developing and executing mock recalls at least twice a year.
Digital tools benefit all departments during a product recall situation but, perhaps, operations teams need these tools the most. Technologies like recall management platforms help operations employees navigate the complexities associated with product recall notices from the FDA,
CPSC, and other government departments. As a result, these employees can identify threats, change production processes, and communicate with other departments efficiently. Without good software, none of this is possible.
Even today, few organizations realize the consequences of poor recall response times. However, taking too long to address product recalls can have a disastrous effect:
- Customers could be at risk
- Customers could file lawsuits against organizations
- The FDA (and other government departments) could issue civil and criminal penalties for poor recall responses/non-compliance
While recall management platforms can’t change the threats associated with product recall management, these programs make it so much easier to manage the operational tasks that come with recalls, such as removing products from production processes and communicating with product managers. So more and more operations managers are incorporating software into their workflows.
What are the Advantages of Recall Management Software for the Operations Department?
Operations teams use all kinds of software to expedite production workflows and supply chains, but sometimes these programs complicate matters. Recall management software simplifies product recalls so there’s less reliance on other programs. The best platforms only charge operations employees for the features they require.
Operations departments need recall management software so they can access the latest information about safety warnings and recall notices in one place. This helps them carry out tasks correctly. Features like real-time reports, dashboards, and collaborative tools provide operations teams with valuable intelligence about recalls. The result? These teams make smarter choices in warehouses and production plants. Operations managers can also share information with product managers and other departments quickly so organizations adopt a more unified approach to recall management. This improves recall response times and reduces the risk of penalties and lawsuits.
MEET MOCK RECALLS
MockRecalls is a mock recall planning, training and consulting company focused 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.
Mock Recalls, was created by our sister company Trievr Recall Management. Trievr has been helping organizations in pharma, medical device and several other industries successfully conduct product recalls and withdrawals seamlessly through its SaaS based on-demand system for over 10 years.
While working with many of its clients, TRIEVR discovered that most had a recall plan in place, but many had not tested the recall plan with a mock recall inventory-based traceability exercise or a recall simulation to test the organizations entire process.
To meet this vital need, Mock Recalls has partnered with RQA, Inc., a global leader in providing quality assurance, crisis management, and risk mitigation consultancy and training, to offer a recall simulation and mock recall training program, utilizing TRIEVR’s Recall platform, that challenges your organization’s capabilities and training and readiness, from initial incident identification to recovery of the affected product.
Final Word
Operations teams require the best new technologies like product recall software to facilitate recall management. These programs support operations employees as they remove threats from production processes and communicate important information to the rest of their organization.
Looking to test your product recall readiness? MockRecalls will help create and/or test your recall program. Click here to learn more or call us!
Learn more about each department’s role during a product recall