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.
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 the latest digital tools help employees carry out vital tasks.
What Does the Operations Department Do in a Product Recall Situation?
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 Digital Tools?
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 Trievr
Trievr is a recall management solution that brims with features for operations teams in various industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, agriculture, and more. This on-demand cloud-based platform lets operations managers and employees share and store information on one centralized database for more effective recall management. Features like auto-alert reminders and recall templates make their job even easier.
Trievr also offers additional security benefits for operations teams that want to safeguard confidential data about production processes. This platform never shares information with outside parties and adheres to several security frameworks.
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.
If you are looking for a product recall management platform for the operations department, look no further. Trievr has an all-in-one solution that lets you manage recalls on-demand, with a simple pricing structure that benefits your organization. Click here to discover more about Trievr or try a live demo now.