Quality Assurance Technician

SUMMARY:

The Quality Technician is responsible for food safety and quality, ensuring our products meet customer requirements and expectations. This position performs quality testing, microbiological testing, maintains laboratory equipment, and helps to identify and document nonconforming materials, performs audits and line inspections, and directs the preparation of food. Additionally, the Quality Technician supports plant studies, employee training, rework/hold oversight, and other assigned duties.

The Quality Technician is responsible for supporting the Quality team, Production Supervisor and Maintenance Technicians to ensure employee safety, plant efficiency, and plant sanitation.

The performance of the Quality Technician is evaluated annually by the Site Quality Assurance Supervisor and/or Manager.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform walkthroughs throughout the shift, noting any immediate SSQE (food/work safety, sanitation, quality, or efficiency) issues or gaps.
• Perform the inspection and approval of incoming ingredients, including raw materials, packaging, and bulk items, following approved programs and procedures.
• Print required production paperwork per product to maintain proper document control practices.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain all lab equipment.
• Perform and record analytical testing of materials, at all parts of the production process: incoming receiving, in-process production, batches, and finished products.
• Make routine batch adjustments as needed per nonconformities.
• Verify kit tickets, packing codes, and recipes per the Production Summary Sheet.
• Report nonconformities, food safety concerns, and/or quality incidents to the Quality Supervisor/Manager and Production Supervisor.
• Aid in creating Food Safety Quality Incident (FSQI) reports for incidents that occur on shift.
• Log and tag non-conforming material.
• Aid in the oversight of repacking and/or reprocessing nonconforming material.
• Ensure signatures are captured for quality checks on both Production and Quality documents.
• Ensure retain samples are pulled, as required per approved specifications and procedures.
• Ensure the laboratories remain clean, organized, and kept in good repair.
• Ensure the retain room remains clean, organized, and that out-of-date product has been properly disposed of, per approved retention procedures.
• Perform microbiological testing on all finished products.
• Read and record microbiological test results at the required time.
• Record analytical data to ensure product remains within specification.
• Perform and record organoleptic/sensory for reach
• Create Certificate of Analysis documents, where applicable.
• Scan and file run documentation to the proper database for each production run.
• Audit production lines for proper packaging. Observations include, but are not limited to, pouch alignment on conveyors, glue patterns on boxes, tape patterns on boxes, packaging seals, cooler water temperatures, etc.
• Aid in weekly/monthly sanitation and CIP (clean in place).
• Record and report sanitation and/or CIP gaps to the Quality Supervisor/Manager and Production Supervisor.
• Report pest control issues and/or gaps to the Quality Supervisor/Manager and Production Supervisor.
• Attend meetings, trainings, one-on-ones, and discussions.
• Record shift activity through end of shift notes and shift pass downs.
• Able to cover multiple production lines.
• Other duties as assigned.

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.

• High School Diploma or 1 year of experience.
• Leadership and team communications skills.
• Basic mathematical and reasoning skills.
• Computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and SharePoint.

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.

• Ability to perform repetitious work.
• Occasional pushing/pulling and lifting/carrying 50 pounds or less.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to work upwards of 12 hours per day.
• Availability to work 4 hours before or after scheduled shift.