Associate QA Manager - Labs

Campbell's•Maxton, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for managing the plant Quality Assurance Soup Laboratories including Chemistry Lab and Microbiological Lab. Also, in conjunction with Quality Systems Manager, Logistics, Operations and R/D, coordinate releases of products, startups of new and reformulated products, supplier and incoming materials COA's, and Noncompliance's. Manage laboratory data and coordinate resolution of specification issues with materials and products.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED
3+ years of Quality Assurance, Laboratory practices or Food experience within a manufacturing environment

Nice To Haves

Bachelors of Science degree in food science, biology, microbiology or a related technical field
5 years of experience in the food industry with demonstrated experience/achievements in Quality Assurance or laboratory practices.
HACCP and/or PCQI certified

Responsibilities

Coordinate test runs, new product/reformulations start-ups and with Product Development, Quality System and plant operations management.
Report outcome of start-ups and reformulations to management, with recommendations on further actions.
Organize and report on conformance of new product to specifications in compliance to the Policy on Specifications Development.
Coordinate corrective action plans between the plant, WHQ QA, R&D and the business sectors for achieving compliance to specifications when compliance issue occur.
Establish schedule and ensure sampling of products per specification and Food Safety/Quality requirements.
Ensure Microbiology and chemistry lab is in compliance with corporate requirements and provide training and Corrective Action as required.
Ensure that the data base and MES system for the statistical tracking of quality attributes information is maintained. Issue the monthly reports to management on conformance to quality specifications as required by policy.
Coordinate corrective action plans when problems with conformance to specifications occur.
Supervise the activities of the laboratory technicians responsible for conducting product and ingredient analyses, and entering data, including microbiology. Ensure that the laboratory is equipped and people are scheduled as needed to meet plant requirements for collecting information that assures conformance to ingredient and product specifications.
Trouble shoot out of specification results, including microbiological specifications, container and ingredient integrity. Partner with operations and maintenance to drive corrective action.
Ensure daily panel is completed, documented and in compliance with standards.
Coordinate implementation of programs for compliance of in-process specification controls.
Competency in use of MES/Zarpac/Historian/Power BI and/or other data reporting tools to report data.
If required establish schedule for sampling ingredients that ensure plant compliance to specifications.
If out of specification work with the plant, purchasing and/or Supply Quality to assess supplier performance and update sampling criteria as needed. Make needed changes to lab and receiving work instructions. Report the results of the supplier review to the SQF/HACCP practitioner so that it can be included in the Management Review meetings when required.
A resource to all plant department of supplier non-conformances. Maintain the supplier non-conformance database and issue updates to WHQ Purchasing Quality. Coordinate activities to assure that all I non-conformance reports (ingredients, packaging, services, Silgan) are issued and corrective actions followed up and documented.
A resource to Purchasing for supplier visits and other type of inspections as needed.
Support Quality department functions including 3rd party audit support, commercialization, product releases, internal audits, mock recalls and other designated functions.
Support Plant Operational Excellence work including pillar and DDS support.
Ensure releases of product in a timely fashion as it relates to set-a-sides, incubated product, micro evaluations, out of specification product, and coordinating product development/packaging releases.
Competence in WMS, SAP, Rebus or third party Portals related to releases.
Evaluate laboratory management programs and procedures, verifying both accuracy and efficacy of the programs and procedures while recommending improvements or corrections for optimizing Campbell's conformance to specifications to standards for products.
Work cross-functionally with other departments, WHQ, Engineering and R/D to assist with product start up issue resolution by coordinating the efforts of all responsible parties for the timely addressing of the problem.
Keep abreast of new technologies in lab management by benchmarking with other network operations, suppliers, technical publications, and reports. Any potential opportunities identified must be clearly communicated to the appropriate teams. This position will also be responsible for any trials or evaluations that would be necessary to identify cost and operational benefits associated with the new technology or practice.
Develop and maintain a working knowledge of food science and technology to support new product activities and specifications resolutions.
Coordinates resolution of QA related lab issues associated with Food Chemistry, Quality and Microbiology.