Skip to content
Epitome Quality GroupQuality control & QA hire

Work

The problems
we were called in for.

Quality work is judged on what changed afterwards. These are engagements described by sector and region rather than by client name, because most of this work is commercially sensitive.

Contracts completed
30
Engagements ongoing
7
Register from
2023

Success stories

Six engagements, start to outcome

Each one follows the same shape: what was wrong, what we did about it, and what the business was left holding.

CS/01

Dairy & cheese

Gippsland, VIC

2025

Zone-based

Monitoring redesign

Environmental monitoring rebuilt for a soft cheese line

The challenge
A specialty cheesemaker was swabbing to a plan inherited from a previous consultant. The sites had never been mapped to their current room layout, and a retailer had queried the program during a technical review.
What we did
We re-zoned the plant, rebuilt the sampling plan around actual traffic and drainage, and set escalation rules so a presumptive positive triggered a defined response rather than a phone call.
The outcome
The revised program was accepted at the retailer's technical review, and the team now runs it without external supervision.
Microbiological testingHACCP & food safety plans

CS/02

Meat & smallgoods

Northern Melbourne, VIC

2025

Documented

Validation file

A date mark that could finally be defended

The challenge
A ready-to-eat smallgoods producer was applying a use-by date carried over from a similar product, with no study behind it. A national customer asked for the validation file and none existed.
What we did
We designed a combined real-time and challenge study across the intended storage range, covering microbiological, pH and sensory endpoints at defined intervals.
The outcome
The producer now holds a documented validation file supporting its date mark, and knows exactly which conditions the claim depends on.
Shelf life & product validationMicrobiological testing

CS/03

Horticulture

Goulburn Valley, VIC

2024

8 weeks

Gap to audit-ready

HARPS readiness for a first-time supermarket supplier

The challenge
A grower-packer won its first major supermarket line and had eight weeks to be audit-ready against a scheme it had never worked under.
What we did
We ran a gap assessment against the scheme, built a prioritised closeout register, wrote the missing procedures and ran a full mock audit two weeks out.
The outcome
The business went into its certification audit with every identified gap closed and a team that had already rehearsed the questions.
Audits & pre-certificationTraining & compliance support

CS/04

Manufacturing

Western Melbourne, VIC

2024

Full range

Panels reconciled

Label and allergen review across a full product range

The challenge
A sauce and condiment manufacturer had grown its range organically. Nutrition panels had been derived inconsistently and allergen statements varied between similar products.
What we did
We analysed representative products, rebuilt the Nutrition Information Panels from verified composition data, and reconciled every allergen declaration against the actual bill of materials and line schedule.
The outcome
The range now carries consistent, substantiated panels and a single documented basis for every allergen statement.
Chemical & nutritional analysisTraining & compliance support

CS/05

Food service

Melbourne CBD, VIC

2024

Multi-site

One record system

Standard 3.2.2A compliance across a multi-site venue group

The challenge
A hospitality group needed consistent food safety records across several venues, with a Food Safety Supervisor and substantiation requirements to satisfy at each site.
What we did
We built one record system that worked in every kitchen, trained supervisors on it, and set a monthly internal check so drift was caught by the group rather than by a council officer.
The outcome
Each venue now keeps the same evidence in the same place, and the group has a single view of compliance across sites.
Training & compliance supportAudits & pre-certification

CS/06

Beverage

Regional VIC

2023

Source

Isolated and controlled

Tracing a recurring spoilage complaint to its source

The challenge
A beverage producer was receiving intermittent spoilage complaints with no discernible pattern by batch, and had begun discarding stock as a precaution.
What we did
We sampled across the process rather than only the finished product, screening process water, filling equipment and packaging alongside product held under stress conditions.
The outcome
The source was isolated to a specific point in the process, and a targeted control replaced the blanket discarding of stock.
Microbiological testingHACCP & food safety plans

In their words

What clients say afterwards

Attributed by role and sector at our clients' request. Full references are available on request for serious enquiries.

  • They walked the floor before they wrote anything. The plan we ended up with actually matches how we run the line, which is why the team uses it.

    Production Manager

    Specialty cheese producer, Gippsland

  • We had a customer asking for a validation file we did not have. Epitome scoped the study, ran it, and gave us something we could hand straight over.

    Quality Assurance Coordinator

    Ready-to-eat smallgoods manufacturer, Melbourne

  • The mock audit was harder than the real one. That was the point, and it is why we passed.

    Operations Director

    Grower-packer, Goulburn Valley

  • Results come back with an explanation of what to do about them, not just numbers. That has saved us a lot of second-guessing.

    Owner

    Sauce and condiment manufacturer, Western Melbourne

Register

Contracts and engagements

A running record of the work. Client identities are withheld; scope, sector and period are not.

Register of contracts and engagements completed by Epitome Quality Group
RefScope of worksSectorRegionYearStatus
EQ-2026-031Retained QA and technical managementManufacturingWestern Melbourne2026Ongoing
EQ-2026-028Environmental monitoring program, ready-to-eat linesMeat & smallgoodsNorthern Melbourne2026Ongoing
EQ-2026-026QA officer placement, temp to permanentDairy & cheeseGippsland2026Ongoing
EQ-2026-024SQF certification readiness programReady mealsSouth-East Melbourne2026Ongoing
EQ-2026-021Real-time shelf life study, 12-month programBeverageGeelong2026Ongoing
EQ-2026-019Line QC inspectors, seasonal peak coverHorticultureGoulburn Valley2026Ongoing
EQ-2026-015Multi-site food safety supervisor programFood serviceMelbourne CBD2026Ongoing
EQ-2026-012Allergen cross-contact assessment and line trialsBakery & snackNorthern Melbourne2026Completed
EQ-2026-009Internal audit program build to ISO 19011ManufacturingDandenong2026Completed
EQ-2026-007Process water and CIP verification testingDairy & cheeseWarrnambool2026Completed
EQ-2026-004HACCP plan rewrite following line expansionMeat & smallgoodsBendigo2026Completed
EQ-2026-002Nutrition Information Panel derivation, 14 SKUsConfectioneryWestern Melbourne2026Completed
EQ-2025-047Mock BRCGS audit and closeout supportReady mealsTruganina2025Completed
EQ-2025-044Listeria environmental program redesignDairy & cheeseGippsland2025Completed
EQ-2025-041Accelerated shelf life study, chilled rangeMeat & smallgoodsNorthern Melbourne2025Completed
EQ-2025-038Supplier audit program, imported ingredientsManufacturingSouth-East Melbourne2025Completed
EQ-2025-035Cleaning validation and sanitation verificationSeafoodGeelong2025Completed
EQ-2025-032Food technologist placement, 6-month contractBakery & snackBallarat2025Completed
EQ-2025-029Water activity and mould-free shelf life trialsBakery & snackWestern Melbourne2025Completed
EQ-2025-025HARPS gap assessment and mock auditHorticultureGoulburn Valley2025Completed
EQ-2025-022Pasteurisation verification and record reviewDairy & cheeseYarra Valley2025Completed
EQ-2025-018Heavy metals and residue screening programHorticultureMildura2025Completed
EQ-2025-014Recall procedure rewrite and mock recallManufacturingLaverton2025Completed
EQ-2025-011Interim QA manager, parental leave coverPet foodDandenong2025Completed
EQ-2025-008Standard 3.2.2A record system and trainingFood serviceMornington Peninsula2025Completed
EQ-2025-005Spoilage investigation and process screeningBeverageRegional Victoria2025Completed
EQ-2024-043Microbial challenge testing, ready-to-eat productMeat & smallgoodsBendigo2024Completed
EQ-2024-039Label and allergen review across full rangeManufacturingWestern Melbourne2024Completed
EQ-2024-036Wash water monitoring program, packing shedHorticultureShepparton2024Completed
EQ-2024-031HACCP team training and internal auditor courseDairy & cheeseWarrnambool2024Completed
EQ-2024-027Sanitation lead placement, night shiftSeafoodGeelong2024Completed
EQ-2024-023Council inspection readiness across four venuesFood serviceMelbourne CBD2024Completed
EQ-2024-019Contract manufacturer technical auditConfectioneryNorthern Melbourne2024Completed
EQ-2024-002Freshcare readiness and grower food safety systemsHorticultureSunraysia2024Completed
EQ-2023-034Pathogen screening program, chilled linesMeat & smallgoodsWodonga2023Completed
EQ-2023-024Sensory and organoleptic stability assessmentDairy & cheeseGippsland2023Completed
EQ-2023-012Initial HACCP plan and CCP determinationReady mealsLaverton2023Completed

Your turn

Bring us the
awkward one.

The engagements that go best are the ones where something has already gone wrong. Tell us what is happening and we will tell you what it will take to fix it.

Request a scope0487 907 952