When I talk with food and beverage manufacturers, processors, and distributors, the conversation almost always turns to the same concerns: quality, traceability, and compliance.
These are not abstract ideas. They affect daily operations, customer trust, and in many cases, the survival of the business.
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) raised the bar, and rightly so. But meeting those requirements does not have to mean adding layers of complexity or spreadsheets that only one person understands.
At Liberty Grove Software, we believe quality management should be practical, visible, and built into how people already work.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) provides companies with a strong foundation for managing QA workflows, batch tracking, nonconformances, and recall processes that support both compliance and operational efficiency.
My goal in this article is to explain how these pieces fit together in real-world terms, without jargon, and from the perspective of someone who has spent years working alongside operations and quality teams.
Quality Management is a System, Not a Department
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is treating quality as something that lives only in the QA department.
In reality, quality management spans purchasing, production, warehousing, and shipping. FSMA reinforces this by requiring documented controls, traceability, and corrective actions across the entire supply chain.
Business Central supports this systems-based approach by centralizing data and workflows. When quality processes are embedded into purchasing receipts, production orders, and sales shipments, quality becomes part of daily operations rather than an afterthought.
This is critical for both compliance and consistency.
For example, when raw materials are received, BC can trigger quality checks tied to specific vendors, items, or risk profiles. Results are recorded against the lot or batch, creating an immediate audit trail.
This data then flows forward into production and finished goods, ensuring downstream decisions are based on verified information.
Batch and Lot Traceability is the Backbone of FSMA
Traceability is the cornerstone of FSMA compliance. The ability to track one step forward and one step back is no longer optional. Companies must know where ingredients came from, how they were used, and where finished products were shipped.
Business Central’s lot and serial tracking capabilities provide the backbone for this requirement.
When properly configured, BC allows you to track batches from supplier receipt through production, storage, and customer shipment.
What matters most is not just that tracking exists, but that it is easy and reliable enough for people actually to use.
In practice, this means associating lot numbers with purchase receipts, consumption in production orders, and output of finished goods. It also means ensuring warehouse transactions, such as transfers or repack operations, maintain lot integrity.
When traceability is built into these workflows, you can generate a complete lot genealogy in seconds rather than hours.
From a leadership perspective, this changes the conversation. Instead of worrying whether you could handle a trace request or recall, you know you can. That confidence matters.
Managing QA Workflows Without Slowing the Business Down
QA workflows often get a bad reputation for being slow or disruptive. In my experience, that usually means the process is disconnected from the system people use every day. When QA steps are managed through emails, paper forms, or spreadsheets, delays are inevitable.
Business Central allows QA workflows to be defined and automated. This includes inspection plans, test results, approvals, and holds.
For example, a received lot can be automatically placed on quality hold until inspection results are entered and approved. Production can be prevented from consuming that lot until it is released, protecting both compliance and product quality.
The key is flexibility. Not every item requires the same level of scrutiny.
BC supports rule-based workflows so high-risk materials receive more rigorous checks, while lower-risk items move more quickly. This risk-based approach aligns well with FSMA expectations and helps QA teams focus where it matters most.
Nonconformances as Learning Opportunities
No operation is perfect. Deviations happen. What separates strong organizations from struggling ones is how they handle nonconformances.
A nonconformance should not just be a record of something going wrong. It should be a tool for learning and improvement.
Business Central supports this by allowing nonconformances to be logged, categorized, and linked to specific lots, vendors, production orders, or customers.
When a nonconformance is recorded, corrective and preventive actions can be assigned and tracked. This creates accountability and visibility.
Over time, patterns emerge. You may see recurring issues with a specific supplier, process step, or piece of equipment.
That insight allows leadership to make informed decisions rather than reacting to symptoms.
From an FSMA standpoint, documented corrective actions are essential. Regulators want to see not only that issues were identified, but that meaningful steps were taken to prevent recurrence. Having this information in BC makes audits far less stressful.
Recall Readiness Without Panic
No one likes to talk about recalls, but every responsible organization plans for them. The worst time to figure out your recall process is during an actual event.
Business Central supports recall readiness by combining traceability, inventory visibility, and customer shipment data. If a lot is identified as potentially unsafe, BC can quickly show which finished goods contain that lot and which customers received them. This dramatically reduces response time and limits exposure.
Equally important is documentation. FSMA requires timely communication and the maintenance of records during a recall. When all transactions are in BC, reports can be generated to support notifications, regulatory reporting, and internal review.
I often tell clients that recall capability is not just about compliance. It is about protecting your brand. A fast, precise response can preserve customer trust even under challenging situations.
Making Compliance Part of Daily Operations
One of the most encouraging trends I see is companies moving away from viewing FSMA compliance as a separate project. Instead, they are integrating compliance into their ERP workflows.
Business Central supports this shift by serving as a single source of truth for quality, inventory, and operations.
When QA data lives alongside purchasing, production, and sales data, teams can collaborate more effectively. Decisions are made with full context. Audits become confirmations rather than fire drills.
This integration also supports growth. As companies add new products, facilities, or markets, having standardized quality and traceability processes in BC allows them to scale without losing control.
A Practical Path Forward
Quality management, traceability, and FSMA compliance can feel overwhelming, especially for growing organizations.
My advice is to start with fundamentals. Ensure lot tracking is accurate and consistently used. Define clear QA workflows that match your risk profile. Treat nonconformances as opportunities to improve. And test your recall process before you need it.
Business Central provides the tools, but success comes from thoughtful configuration and alignment with how people actually work.
At Liberty Grove Software, we focus on bridging that gap. We help clients design solutions that support compliance while making day-to-day operations smoother, not harder.
At the end of the day, quality is about trust. Trust from regulators, customers, and your own team. When quality processes are transparent, reliable, and integrated into BC, that trust becomes a natural outcome rather than a constant concern.
That is what modern quality management should look like, and it is absolutely achievable.
Ready to Simplify FSMA Compliance and Strengthen Traceability?
Let’s talk. Schedule a conversation with Liberty Grove Software today to see how Business Central can support practical, audit-ready quality management across your operations.
About Andrew Good
Andrew Good, CEO, Liberty Grove Software
Andrew Good, CEO of Liberty Grove Software, a leader in digital transformation, directs the company with strategic insights that deliver impactful results. With over two decades of expertise in Microsoft technologies, Andrew has guided businesses through digital transformation across manufacturing, finance, and healthcare.
Andrew’s extensive knowledge comes from personal experiences with various companies. His hands-on operational knowledge comes from Engineering, Maintenance, and operational roles at Unilever and Sony Music. Fourteen years of working with Microsoft Dynamics BC/NAV follows successful projects in ERP, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (EAM), and quality systems.
His passion for technology is matched by his love for sailing, which inspires his leadership. Andrew parallels the precision of navigating the seas and the challenges of steering a successful company. Under his leadership, Liberty Grove Software thrives, offering tailored solutions to empower clients and optimize operations with innovative Microsoft-based systems.
