Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an Audit and an Inspection?

At AIB, we define an Audit as:

• A systematic evaluation to determine if programs and related activities achieve planned expectations
• The review or challenging of written programs; documentation of activities; corrective actions; trends
• An aid to determining the correlations between documented procedures and activities and actual execution
• A potential assistance in identifying root cause, which can lead to long term corrective action

• An assessment at a "moment in time" which identifies positive and negative conditions
• An extensive physical examination of a facility and its equipment and observation of practices in order to collect information to determine compliance with plant programs
• Structured to initiate immediate corrective action, when it is required
• Structured to often lead to an evaluation of programs and systems

How do I get the results of my audit? (In what format and by what delivery method?)

A paper copy of your audit report is sent through the U.S. Postal Service or it may be emailed to you. There may be an additional charge when mailing audit results to accounts outside of the United States.

How many copies of the audit report can I get free-of-charge?

AIB does not charge for reasonable requests for additional copies of audit reports.

Does my certification expire?

AIB International does not "certify" a company, we simply issue a certificate of achievement based upon the rating received on the day of the inspection. Our certificates do not "expire", however, most companies request to have a certificate indicating that an inspection occurred within the past year.

AIB International also issues a certificate of participation (one per year) in addition to the achievement certificate for those companies that receive a Superior, Excellent or Satisfactory rating.

How do I estimate how long an audit will take, so I can estimate how much it will cost?

The length of time is based on the square footage and type of operation. Please call AIB at 785-537-4750 or 800-633-5137 to get an estimate.

What is the estimated wait time from when I make the appointment until the audit occurs?

Sixty to ninety days, depending on whether there is an auditor in your area, the auditor workload, and cancellations.

What will I gain by being audited?

Audits are an educational service and are a proven way to achieve sustainable and consistent standards of food safety. Audits are designed to help prevent product adulteration, reduce customer complaints and adverse publicity, and to eliminate regulatory actions such as product seizures, improvement notices, prohibition notices and corporate liability for non-compliance with food regulations.

How can I be sure the results of the audit will be kept confidential?

AIB International will not release results of any inspection to any third party company without written authorization.

What are the credentials of the auditors?

AIB International auditors are full-time professionals. They have obtained either bachelor or advanced degrees in related fields of study and many have become certified as Registered Sanitarians by state or national examination. Many hold additional licenses. Our auditors attend technical courses at AIB International and complete a formal AIB auditor training program at the Institute.

What time will an auditor arrive at my plant?

An auditor will arrive at your plant between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise specified.

Can I have extra copies of the certificate?

Yes, for an additional charge. Please contact the audit services office at 785-537-4750 or 800-633-5137.

What is the inspection criteria that you use?

AIB uses published standards specific to your operation. Click here for more information on these standards.

Is a contract required?

AIB International does not generally require contracts for any of the various food safety and hygiene services it owns and provides. In regards to benchmarked schemes under the Global Food Safety Initiative, such as BRC or SQF, it is required by the owners of such schemes that an agreement signed by an authorized representative of the company whose site is being audited must be in place before the audit can be performed.

All AIB reports and services are confidential and reports are not released to or discussed with an external party unless a release form has been signed. GFSI audits are similarly confidential, except that scheme owners and the accreditation bodies of the third party firms conducting the audits may review a sample of reports to ensure that quality standards are being met and maintained.

In what countries have you conducted audits?

Click here for a listing of countries where AIB has conducted audits.

How do I apply for a field auditor position with AIB?

Review the AIB Food Safety Auditor Job Description. Then, send a cover letter and resume to the attention of Shirley Hemme, Human Resources Administrator. E-mail Ms. Hemme at humanres@aibonline.org or mail your information to her at AIB, PO Box 3999, Manhattan, KS 66505-3999. Applications are always accepted and will be kept on file for future openings.