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Platforms / Control Chain / 04

Quality Assurance

Quality gates positioned across critical operating stages—before processing, during controlled activity, at batch release and through corrective-action closure.

System at a Glance

The control logic in sequence.

Quality assurance is a sequence of evidence-based gates, not a single end-point inspection. Each gate can allow progression, impose a hold or trigger corrective action.

  1. 01

    Input Gate

    Confirm requirement, source, identity and readiness evidence before processing.

  2. 02

    Process Gate

    Review controlled activity, segregation, conditions and exceptions.

  3. 03

    Release Gate

    Reconcile specification, product, batch and required documents.

  4. 04

    Closure Gate

    Record correction, disposition, authorization and retained evidence.

01 / Pre-processing Review

The batch enters processing only when the inputs are reviewable.

Pre-processing review links the agreed specification and batch plan with source identity, farm-side records, animal health and residue status, processing schedule and the documents required for the intended pathway.

  1. 01

    Requirement Check

    Confirm the latest approved specification, batch plan and responsibilities.

  2. 02

    Input Evidence

    Review identity, source, health, treatment, residue and movement records as applicable.

  3. 03

    Gate Decision

    Record proceed, hold or reject status before controlled activity starts.

02 / In-process QA Gates

Quality is reviewed while the product is being transformed.

In-process gates monitor whether the controlled batch remains aligned with identity, segregation, process, hygiene, product and temperature requirements. Deviations are captured when they occur rather than reconstructed after completion.

  1. 01

    Identity & Segregation

    Check that the batch remains distinguishable through slaughter, cutting, packing and storage.

  2. 02

    Process Observation

    Record relevant conditions, checks and departures from the defined SOP or batch plan.

  3. 03

    Immediate Escalation

    Stop, hold or isolate affected scope when a critical requirement is not met.

03 / Batch Release Logic

Release is a documented decision, not an assumption.

The release gate should reconcile product specification, quantities, batch continuity, processing and packing records, temperature evidence, exceptions and route-specific documents before progression to shipment planning.

  1. 01

    Complete

    Required records are present, legible, current and linked to the controlled batch.

  2. 02

    Consistent

    Names, dates, product details, quantities and references agree across the evidence set.

  3. 03

    Authorized

    The responsible reviewer records release, hold, rejection or conditions for further action.

04 / Documentation & Corrective Action

Exceptions remain visible until evidence supports closure.

Corrective action should preserve the original issue, define containment and responsibility, record the evidence used for resolution and prevent an unresolved deviation from being presented as completed compliance.

  1. 01

    Issue Record

    Describe the affected batch, requirement, finding, date and immediate containment.

  2. 02

    Disposition

    Record correction, rework, rejection, segregation or other authorized treatment.

  3. 03

    Closure & Learning

    Verify effectiveness, retain approval and feed lessons into SOP or control updates.

Related Control Chain

  1. 01Production Control
  2. 02Traceability
  3. 03Processing Control
  4. 04Quality Assurance
  5. 05Export Coordination

Overview

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