The evolution of auditing in all programs has quite correctly resulted in expectations that more time is spent on factory based auditing/inspection. This is compounded with many topical issues in industry having root cause in production operations.
In the meantime, there remains an expectation that an audit must provide complete assurance that systems fully conform to all specified requirements and to site documented processes. This must all be achieved in a finite time.
To equip auditors with the best chance of success in finding issues that truly impact food safety, more emphasis is to be placed on audit approach from observational/situational-based audit and in challenging ways of working as a priority followed by records observation and finally documented procedures.