Acknowledgement: A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities listed are essential job functions and requirements that are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) must possess the skills, aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skill or abilities.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instruction or assignments.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
BASIC PURPOSE:
Accountable for quality of product. Ensure the cleanliness, orderliness and the safety of quality assurance and production areas. Assist and follows the supervision of the QA Manager.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Essential functions are those that the individual who holds the job must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation. It does not include the other functions of the job
- Inspect incoming ingredients and packaging material using lab equipment for quantitative analysis or COAs for vendor supplied analysis and senses for organoleptic analysis.
- Determine acceptability based on ingredient and packaging material specifications.
- Record results, maintain receiving logs, for record keeping and audit purposes.
- Inform QA Lead or Manager of any out of spec situations or negative trends.
- Develop specifications and analysis recording sheets for new ingredients/materials.
- Assist R&D and Purchasing in evaluating new suppliers.
- Submit ingredient samples from current and new suppliers to approved labs for authenticity and pesticide analysis per procedure.
- Assist Warehouse with development and performance of receiving/handling/storage procedures.
- Verify Batch Report meets Formula System requirements for blending with correct ingredient and quantities.
- Assist R & D in developing formulas for new products.
- Maintain formula system by keeping formula manual current.
- Audit blending operations for conformance to process specifications.
- Prepare solutions used in testing following written procedure and safe handling requirements.
- Proper use of all test equipment resulting in accurate and repeatable test results, following written procedures and safe handling requirements.
- Maintain, calibrate and program all lab and test equipment and perform daily maintenance.
- Gather random samples from packaging lines and evaluate quality of product and packaging as specified in quality control manuals.
- Audit quality tests performed by Operations (including weights, dye checks, leak checks, etc.) requires thorough understanding of tests.
- Thorough knowledge of product weight procedure (including Datamyte system and USDA requirements.)
- Thorough understanding of all USDA requirements and quality tests.
- Understanding of manufacturing equipment in all areas, able to recognize potential problems.
- Maintain complete, accurate and legible records of all inspection data, prepares daily reports.
- Notifies other department heads, as needed, of serious problems during the production run. Maintains a close working relationship with Shift Supervisors, assist them in determining if the line down should be shut down if the product being packaged is unacceptable. Assists Operations as needed, till deviations are resolved. Determines if product should continue to be produced.
- Responsible for determining if product should be placed on Hold, and verifying that Hold product is isolated and tagged, to assure non-conforming product does not leave the plant.
- Keeps QA Manager informed of any variation in operations, procedures or inspection results that might affect the quality of the finished product.
- Coordination Quality Hold System.
- Updates Hold Procedure and Reports/Tags as business needs change.
- Initiates and concludes all Hold Reports.
- Review Holds on a daily basis and communicates daily and monthly summary of Holds.
- Performs periodic physical audits of Hold System.
- Thorough knowledge of HACCP requirements related to thermal process charts and required documentation.
- Investigates non-conformance of product and process and determines root causes of non-conformances, assist Operations in establishing corrective actions.
- Lead by setting example of excellence; through hard work, professional integrity, through testing and record keeping, support of company/department goals.
- Train operators how to: operate lab equipment and perform ingredient, packaging, product and process testing, interpret written work instructions and procedures, carry out quality programs, complete records, enforce specs, make decisions in out of spec situations.
- Teach problem solving skills.
- Monitor Operators performance by daily review and feedback of records, accompaniment on assignments, observation of performance, being available for assistance.
- Thorough knowledge of Quality systems; including Formula System, HACCP, Traceability, Ingredient and Packaging Specification, Pesticide program plus GMPs, AIB standards and customer requirements, pest control, USDA.
- Develop procedures to meet Quality Systems Requirements. (Using Country Pure Foods Requirements as a baseline).
- Find solutions to quality related issues, lead problem solving teams.
- Implement programs to meet company and departmental objectives.
- Knowledge of many areas and their procedures including manufacturing, purchasing, R & D, Shipping, customer Service, etc.
- Develop process capability studies on manufacturing equipment to determine appropriate product specifications ranges.
- Perform repeatability studies on lab testing equipment to determine appropriate product specification ranges.
- Perform reliability studies and audit within department to determine areas of training needed in QA.
- Provide cross training for QA Technicians.
- Develop new written procedures/work instructions/records, documenting all lab responsibilities.
- Continuously update written procedures/work instructions/records as business needs change, and as more efficient methods are determined.
- Review daily records, recognize trends and identify problem areas.
- Analyze current sampling/test programs; update to make more effective/efficient.
- Use computer/Excel/word to create new record keeping systems.
- Perpetuate continuous quality improvement though new ideas.
- Stays abreast of new technology and investigates applications for Ardmore Farms.
- Fills in for other QA Technicians as needed, provide vacation relief. Able to perform all responsibilities of the QA tech in all areas.
- Order lab supplies.
- Conduct special testing and tasks as required by QA Lead and/or Manager.
- Maintain QA record keeping and filing systems.
- Keep QA lab clean and organized. Maintain housekeeping programs in the QA Laboratory and other QA areas.
- Prepare samples for outside testing.
- Prepare sales and customer samples for shipment to required locations.
- Monitor remilling operations / work with shipping to accurately maintain remill accountability.
- Test shelf-life samples for organoleptic characteristics.
- Develop batch reports for blenders / analyze batches to optimize maximum concentrate usage.
- Monitor and evaluate CIP and COP cleaning processes.
- Lead quality systems in-plant audit teams, accompany outside quality system auditors.
- Maintain Pest Control program.
- Performs miscellaneous tasks assigned by Quality Assurance Lead and Manager.
- Follow CPF policies and procedures.
- Report unsafe conditions to Warehouse Manager.
- Suggest improvements in safety, quality and efficiency.
- Operate time card system properly.
- Communicate with previous and following shift regarding QA status.
You may be asked to perform duties not listed in this job description.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
Describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for this position.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
Associate degree and one to three years experience in a Food or Beverage Manufacturing Quality Assurance role; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Language Skills
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of; Inventory software; Spreadsheet software (Excel) and Word Processing software (Word) and Database software (Access).
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
HACCP Certification, preferred.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Describe the physical work environment including possible conditions that may be encountered
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is also frequently required to taste and smell. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision, close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; outside weather conditions extreme cold, and frequent changes in temperature from going in and out of the freezers. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud and hearing protection is required in all production areas of the facility.