Central Lab Technician (CLT)

Happy's Potato Chip Co.•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

The Central Lab Technician (CLT) is responsible for the quality and integrity of products received and manufactured. The technician performs routine quality assurance tests in the laboratory and on the packaging floor by following written procedures and maintaining accurate, current records to help ensure product and packaging quality. The role performs tests on in-process and finished products and raw materials, conducts laboratory rounds and metal detector tests, verifies incoming materials and packaging, analyzes retained products, and checks equipment after cleaning. The technician records test results, completes hold and deviation paperwork, maintains a clean and safe laboratory, and promptly informs a supervisor of issues that could compromise food safety or product quality. Additional quality-related projects, documentation work, or other duties may be assigned by management. The position requires continuous walking and standing for shifts of up to 12 hours, occasional stair climbing, reaching, grabbing, and lifting or carrying up to 20 pounds. The technician must work safely around moving machinery and on slippery floors, wear hearing protection in noisy areas, communicate effectively, follow directions, and complete required quality checks within allotted timeframes. Qualified candidates must be able to perform essential job functions with or without accommodation.

Requirements

Ability to perform essential job functions with or without accommodation.
Ability to walk and stand continuously for a full work shift, up to 12 hours per day.
Ability to climb stairs occasionally.
Ability to reach and grab occasionally.
Ability to lift and carry 20 pounds occasionally.
Ability to work safely around moving machinery and cautiously on slippery floors.
Ability to work in noisy areas and wear hearing protection.
Effective written and verbal communication with team members and supervisors.
Ability to follow written and verbal directions.
Basic computer skills.
Attention to detail and ability to accurately complete and record test results.
Ability to work 40 hours over a five-day week and overtime during the week and on weekends as needed.
Dependable attendance.
Ability to maintain meticulous records and complete required quality checks within allotted timeframes.
Adherence to relevant health and safety procedures.

Responsibilities

Perform in-process, finished-product, and raw-material tests, including moisture, oil, salt, free fatty acids (FFA), and finished-product defect analysis, using specified laboratory methods and the Quality Manual.
Perform laboratory rounds, including checks of seal integrity, packaging and seasoning, code dates, printed prices, and product weights.
Perform metal detector tests.
Place product on hold and complete deviation and hold paperwork by the end of the shift.
Verify incoming materials, including seasonings, salt, oil, corn, popcorn, corn meal, and packaging, and assemble documentation according to written procedures.
Perform retained-product analysis.
Inspect equipment after cleaning.
Perform seal-integrity tests, including visual inspection and water-tank testing.
Inform a supervisor promptly of issues that may compromise food safety or product quality.
Record or enter test results into a computer as required.
Maintain a clean and safe laboratory environment.
Perform roll-stock changes and product-changeover verifications to ensure quality standards are met.
Maintain meticulous records and follow written recordkeeping and documentation procedures.
Undertake special projects under the supervision of the QA Manager as assigned.
Review, organize, file, or update documentation in support of the Quality program as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned by management.
Complete required quality checks within the allotted timeframe and adhere to relevant health and safety procedures.