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From Glass to GMP: Inspection Workflows That Work

How FSQA teams are closing gaps and strengthening facility compliance

Inspections are everywhere in food production: GMP, pre-op, glass and brittle plastic, sanitation verification, pest control, environmental monitoring; the list is long, and the frequency is high.

These inspections help catch issues before they grow. But only if the data is accurate, complete, and easy to act on.

In many facilities, inspections are done on paper or basic spreadsheets. That works, until records are incomplete, checklists go missing, or trends get buried in static reports.

Where inspections get off track

We talk to FSQA leads and plant managers every day. Even in well-run operations, inspection programs often run into these problems:

• Checklists are inconsistent between shifts or sites
• Records are incomplete, with missing fields or skipped steps
• Trends are hard to spot, because data isn’t centralized
• Follow-up actions aren’t assigned or tracked
• Audit prep takes hours, because inspection results live in binders or local folders

It’s not about how hard the team works, it’s about whether the system helps them catch and correct issues in time.

What good inspection workflows have in common

When inspection programs work well, they support teams, not just auditors. They’re structured, but flexible. And they make it easy to see what’s happening across the facility.

Here’s what that usually looks like:

• Standardized forms, tailored to each type of inspection
• Clear criteria and required fields, so steps aren’t skipped
• Mobile access, so inspections happen in real time, not at the end of a shift
• Photos or notes, to add context when issues are found
• Automated alerts and follow-ups, when thresholds are missed or actions are due
• Reporting tools, so managers can see trends and act quickly

Instead of digging through paper logs, the data is live, and so are the insights.

How Certdox makes inspections easier and more actionable

Certdox helps FSQA and facility teams create inspection systems that are structured, repeatable, and fully traceable, without adding busywork.

With Certdox, you can:

• Build custom inspection forms for GMP, glass and plastic, pre-op, equipment checks, and more
• Standardize forms across locations or departments
• Complete inspections on desktop or mobile, with real-time syncing
• Require photos, notes, and initials where needed
• Set up auto-notifications for non-conformances
• Export inspection reports instantly for audits, management reviews, or corrective action follow-up

Everything is stored in one place, searchable, and always current.

Final thought

Inspection programs are there to protect your process. But without the right system, they can turn into paperwork, checked boxes, with no clear follow-up.

Certdox helps you turn inspections into action, with tools that fit your process and scale with your team.

[Schedule a walkthrough] or [Explore Certdox modules]