Quality Technician

POSITION SUMMARY:

The purpose of the Quality Assurance Technician is to ensure proper specifications are met and documented for all incoming ingredients and packaging materials, as well as outgoing finished products. Technicians also communicate all findings to the necessary departments. Michael Foods, its customers, and the public benefit from the work performed by technicians who help ensure safe, compliant, high-quality products.This position has the responsibility to comply with Safety work rules at all times, as well as an obligation to reinforce Safety as a Core Value. Ensures that all policies, procedures, and activities related to Food Safety and Quality are followed and complied with uniformly in an effort to reduce product and process variability.

The hours for this position will be 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Accountable for a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. Adhere to all safety policies and procedures and incorporate safety and health into all jobs and tasks.
• Ensure regulatory compliance at all times.
• Perform periodic in-process quality checks, including weights, dimensions, temperatures, sensory evaluations, document reviews, etc.
• Inspect incoming packaging materials and ingredients for proper labeling/coding, allergen labeling requirements, adherence to manufacturing specifications, etc.
• Perform periodic finished product checks, including case weights, case counts, packaging integrity, case coding, labeling, etc.
• Assist in the drafting, revision, and maintenance of plant standard operating procedures.
• Act as a liaison between Production, Distribution, Sanitation, Maintenance, and the Quality Department.
• Participate in plant food safety and quality inspections, in-process inspections, mock recalls, label audits, HACCP audits, and equipment calibrations as required.
• Verify proper setup of production lines at start-up and shift changes, including printer setup (coding), packaging materials, labeling, quality limits, etc.
• Verify the sanitary condition of production lines prior to start-up and after downtime requiring maintenance activity.
• Verify compliance with label-stated weights and associated regulations for all products.
• Communicate quality issues to Production and Quality Management and assist in root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions, where appropriate.
• Perform investigative environmental swabbing of critical production equipment and areas as a troubleshooting tool.
• Perform RedZone checks and ensure compliance.
• Complete special projects related to quality improvements as assigned by the Quality Manager.
• Review documentation and communicate with Operations regarding any deficiencies identified during the review process.
• Assist in investigations related to customer concerns or other quality-related deviations to determine root causes and appropriate corrective actions.
• Assist in managing quality hold activities, including non-conforming product inventories.
• Ensure adherence to company Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), customer specifications, and internal product specifications at all times.
• Assist the Microbiology Laboratory Supervisor and Technicians as needed.
• Adhere to Quality work practices, follow GMPs, maintain sanitary conditions, and ensure product quality is maintained. Report to management any conditions or practices that may adversely affect food safety and quality.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED), or equivalent.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to effectively communicate with groups, customers/vendors, and employees of the organization.
• Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, as well as proficiency in iPad operation.
• Valid driver's license.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS:

• Bachelor's degree in food science or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across various departments.
• Knowledge of company and regulatory policies, procedures, and philosophies.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and the ability to coach and train others on GMPs.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office programs for collecting and analyzing data, and for writing procedures and reports.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to participate in cross-functional teams.
• Data collection, analysis, and reporting skills.
• Ability to perform basic administrative duties.
• Ability to operate specific equipment or tools.
• Typing and/or shorthand skills, as required.
• Proficiency in working with computers, including spreadsheet and word-processing software.
• Familiarity with specialized terminology, including legal, medical, or scientific terms.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills that may be required.