We’re pleased to announce our latest BRC Global Standards Professional, Megan Ruddy. Megan is a Supplier Quality Specialist at FGF Brands in Toronto, Canada, and is in fact the second employee from FGF Brands to achieve this qualification! We caught up with Megan to find out a little more about her and how the programme fits into her career ambitions.
What is your current role?
Supplier Quality Specialist at FGF Brands
Why did you join the BRC Global Standards Professional Programme?
I was looking into various courses that would provide me with a foundation for completing supplier audits without signing up with a certification body. BRC Global Standards Professional Programme provided the course foundation I was searching for, with industry recognition built in.
What value do you personally feel the BRC Global Standards Professional certification brings to you?
Being a BRC Global Standards Professional, I feel that my ability to complete supplier audits on behalf of my organization is no longer in question. Now I have the certificate to back up my industry experience.
How has/will the recognition programme impacted your work?
Since completing the program, I noted that I have been provided more opportunities to complete supplier audits without additional support from our quality department.
Would you have completed the component courses anyway?
I probably would have completed a few of the component courses, but not in the same time frame. In this case, I found taking the additional courses was a great benefit as it exposed me to different ways of thinking and of approaching issues.
How did you get to your current role?
I first started out at FGF Brands as a QA technician working on the midnight shift. After a few months of hard work, I received a promotion to QA Customer Care Lead where I was responsible for supplier approvals, customer complaints and customer surveys. While in this role, I began to focus on improving our supplier approval program and the company began to realize that this should be a role on its own. Before long, I received another promotion to become the first Supplier Quality Specialist at the company. My main responsibilities now include supplier approvals, maintaining current supplier documents, as well as completing supplier audits.
What is your educational background?
I have an Advanced Diploma from Durham College in Pharmaceutical and Food Science Technology. I also have completed several short courses over the years and have certificates such as OPMA’s Produce Handling Certificate, HACCP 1 & 2 from NSF, SFCR, etc
What are your career ambitions/aims?
I aspire to be an auditor within the food industry. I love that I am currently involved with auditing suppliers of various industries to ensure that they are up to our company standards. This will provide me with some great knowledge of industries other than just bakery.