FSQ Technician I

SunOpta•Alexandria, MN

36d•Onsite

About The Position

Quality Assurance Technician I is responsible for testing and inspecting products at various stages of production, compiles and evaluates statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products by performing the following duties.

Requirements

Planning and organizing. The ability to prioritize and use time efficiently
Communication - needs to be able to effectively communicate discrepancies to Supervisor and key staff personnel when a problem is detected
Quality - demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness. Detail oriented.
Quantity - must be able to multitask and completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; uses equipment and materials properly.
Dependability - follows written instructions and Standard Operating Procedures, takes responsibilities for own actions, good attendance record.
Ability to smell and taste
Must be able to interpret various test results that involve color analysis.
Understands and demonstrates safe behaviors
Understands and demonstrates good GMPs
Understands sanitation processes thoroughly
Adheres to all Quality Assurance System guidelines
Responsible for compliance to the HACCP for each process
High School diploma or GED.
Basic keyboarding skills are helpful but not necessary.
Preferably at least two years' experience in food manufacturing.
Candidate must possess the knowledge and understanding of basic math skills including weight calculations, averages and percentages.
Must be able to read and write in English.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills critical
Must be able to work 12 hr shift as well as overnight.

Nice To Haves

Background in Food Science or Microbiology preferred.

Responsibilities

Responsible for the official release for all ingredients and finished goods.
Micro duties which include plating, reading and interpreting results against known specifications. This requires basic math skills of averaging and knowledge of making dilutions. Various micro testing is conducted on powders, liquids, swabs, filters and air samples.
Preoperational Inspections. This requires inspecting equipment before production startup and taking ATP and micro swabs to validate results.
Incoming Ingredient analysis. This requires compositing powder samples, running various chemical, micro and physical analytical testing and reporting these results on a Certificate of Analysis. Results are compared against known standards for interpretation.
Finished product analysis. All finished product has a Certificate of Analysis generated on it. Testing is in accordance to customer specifications which vary per product. Various tests may include Standard Plate count, Coliform, yeast & mold, viscosities, particle size, bulk density, moisture, solids, Dextrose Equivalency, protein, fat, scorched particle, PH, titratable acidity, flavor and separable solids. New tests may be brought in by the customer for their particular product.
Sample taking. Aseptic samples are taken twice per shift from various ports located throughout the facility. Finished product bags may have to be sampled for troubleshooting purposes.
Calibrating lab equipment
Prepares chemical solutions according to standard formulas.
Housekeeping - responsible for keeping work area clean and other various areas listed on the master cleaning schedule.
Does various QC audits throughout the facility.
Understands and demonstrates safe behaviors
Provides feedback to production employees regarding safe behaviors
Document safety risks and communicates them appropriately
Serves an active role in the plant safety program by attending safety meetings and participating in monthly safety inspections
Understands and demonstrates good GMPs
Understands sanitation processes thoroughly
Adheres to all Quality Assurance System guidelines
Responsible for compliance to the HACCP for each process
Reviews batch records for accuracy, neatness and completion. Document all incidents and deviations.
Ensures MSS tasks are distributed evenly and completed in a timely manner
Maintain a clean and organized work environment
Cooperates with other shifts and the management team in housekeeping endeavors
Maintain communication with employees and management
Reduce downtime due to changeovers, scheduling, breakdowns
Conduct accurate and complete Tier 1 shift handoff
Communicate necessary maintenance plans and schedules
Promotes and contributes to the development of teamwork among other coworkers
Assists in coaching and training employees as requested by the management team
Continuous improvement of knowledge of the soy base process