Understanding GFSI requirements for training your staff
In the packaging industry, ensuring food safety and quality involves more than using approved materials or advanced equipment – it starts with people. The competence, training and awareness of your team are critical for maintaining compliance and preventing risk. That’s why global standards, such as BRC Global Standard, SQF, and FSSC 22000, all highlight training and staff competence as a core requirement for certification.
In this final edition of our GFSI blog series, we turn our focus to the role of employee training in ink logistics. We outline the shared principles across these standards and show how GSE’s services support compliance – from onboarding and process training to ongoing performance monitoring. Whether your team is printing films, converting paperboard, or producing labels, their knowledge and actions have a direct impact on product safety, compliance, and customer trust.
Training requirements in the three food safety management schemes
The criteria for training and competence can be found in:
- Section 6.1 of the BRC Global Standard (BRCGS) for Packaging Materials
- Section 1.4 of FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification)
- Section 2.9 of Safe Quality Food (SQF).
A shared standard: people must be trained before they start
All three certification schemes share a basic, but powerful principle: no person should begin work without appropriate training. This includes full-time employees, temporary workers, and even contractors. Induction programs must include hygiene rules and safety procedures, particularly in zones where materials are handled, processed, packed, or stored.
The scope of training must match the responsibility. That means anyone involved in product inspection, process control, testing, calibration, or packaging verification must be assessed for competence and given role-specific training.
Training is not a one-time exercise
Training must be an ongoing process. Personnel must not only be trained when they join but must receive refresher training at defined intervals. Any changes in procedures, equipment, or regulatory requirements must be communicated effectively and in a timely way.
This extends to activities relating to product safety, quality and legality such as:
- Calibration
- Operatives at manufacturing process control points
- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
- Environmental monitoring
- Implementing HACCP
In short, as your operations evolve, so must the competence of your people.
Training documentation: more than a paper trail
Training is not considered valid unless it is documented and verifiable. Each standard outlines clear expectations for maintaining training records. These should include:
- The name of the trainee
- The date and duration of the training session
- The course title or contents
- The trainer’s name or organisation
- Evidence that the trainee is now competent to perform their role
Importantly, the training materials and delivery must be in a language the staff can understand. This is vital in international operations or multilingual teams.
GSE training services – supporting regulatory compliance
Operator and maintenance training after installation
After every GSE ink dispensing system installation, we provide structured training for machine operators and maintenance staff. This ensures safe and effective operation from day one, and lays the foundation for process consistency and compliance.
Advanced software training
When customers use the full scope of our software’s capabilities, we offer advanced training sessions tailored to the site’s workflow. Topics may include managing orders and articles, applying colour and press corrections, handling return inks and using traceability and reporting tools. These sessions help improve productivity and align with traceability and documentation requirements.
Maintenance and calibration training
To ensure long-term performance and system accuracy, GSE offers on-site training and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for routine maintenance and calibration. This may include:
- Systematic maintenance of the dispensing system and related equipment
- Calibration of valves and weighing scales
- Preventive troubleshooting
Remote webinars
For customers with teams across multiple locations, GSE organises live webinars to deliver targeted software training remotely. Using the GSE Virtual showroom and GSE demo software, these sessions are interactive and tailored to user roles, supporting consistent knowledge across the organisation without travel requirements.
Multilingual software and training efficiency
Our software is available in 43 languages, covering approximately 90% of the global population. Each user logs in with their preferred language, enabling seamless onboarding and efficient training for multilingual teams. This eliminates communication barriers and supports effective knowledge transfer across diverse organisations.
Documentation and certification
All training topics covered during commissioning are documented in the acceptance protocol. Upon request, GSE issues training certificates for participants, which serve as evidence during third-party audits and support internal HR compliance tracking.
From compliance to competitive advantage
Effective, ongoing training is more than a compliance requirement – it’s a business imperative. GSE helps customers embed training into their operational routines, ensuring teams are confident, competent, and always audit-ready.
Embed training into your daily operations
With GSE, training isn’t an event — it’s a built-in part of your ink management system. Let’s talk about how we can support your team
