Quality Control Manager at Deli Spices

Mar 25, 2021

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:
The QC manager oversees the quality of all products and materials entering and leaving the business, as well as the staff involved in the oversight and testing of these products and materials.

This role works closely with:
o Procurement, to ensure that quality standards are met for materials required in manufacturing and that materials brought in for resale comply with the MANE/Deli quality standards before they are sent to customers.
o Manufacturing, to ensure that all departments comply with the quality standards for the manufacture and release of materials
o Branches/Customers, to review complaints related to product quality and testing and to assist with shelf-life extensions as required.
o Research and Development (R&D) to assist with shelf-life reviews and rework options. Also work closely with the PPIT to look at testing required when introducing new products into Production
o Food Safety and Quality as part of the overall quality system in the business.
It will also involve communicating with customers and suppliers on technical information and testing related to products and materials.
It will also be involved in the development and monitoring of SharePoint and BI reports for the business as relates to the QC department

KEY RESULT AREAS

Key responsibilities of the QC Manager will include, but not be limited to:
To manage a team of staff in the QC departments, at 25 Bertie Avenue, Epping 2, reporting directly to them, as per the current internal organogram structure (as attached) to ensure that:

  • quality and food safety control measures are in place and effective, to ensure that safe quality products are manufactured.
  • customers and distributors requests are met for batch specific documentation relating to: COA’s; customer complaint reports and recalls, shelf-life extensions, etc
  • technical staff are managed, and systems are in place to ensure that updated information is received from suppliers regarding the products Deli purchases from them for use in our production and this updated information is efficiently electronically filed to be easily available to the technical team at all times.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Internal functions relating to food safety aspects of Deli Spices:

  • Assist Technical staff with any unresolved issues or non-conformances (i.e.) out of specification incoming ingredients or manufactured blends, expiring stock, customer complaints etc; and advise corrective actions or authorize rejection for supplier upliftment, disposal, recall etc.
  • Regular review of QC documents and requesting and/or editing (where applicable) and approving new QC procedures or changes to existing specifications or QC tests for specific ingredients.
  • Reviewing, approving and signing off all ISO, GMP and GLP documentation compiled or edited by QC staff.
  • Reviewing, approving and signing off specification sheets compiled or edited by Quality Co-ordinator, as relates to the QC department.
  • Alternating with Quality management to review, verify and sign off relevant completed checklists, micro results, QC sheets etc
  • Present and involved with major food safety audits by accreditation bodies and key customers.

External customer-distributor related functions:

  • Discussing, reviewing and approving product related questionnaires pertaining to all aspects of QC.
  • Reviewing and approving customer complaint reports written by QC.
  • Communication by e-mail, official letterhead statements or telephone calls with customers or distributors or suppliers in response to queries and requests that are not able to be answered by other technical staff due to lack of knowledge or accountability.

  • Researching internet or books or requesting information from suppliers directly or through relevant Technical staff or Purchasing staff in response to new, unusual, queries received from customers or distributors relating to ingredients in our products.

  • Training relevant technical staff on results of research and/or making this information available to all technical staff on database or public drive folders.

  • Direct communication by e-mail, or telephone with customers or distributors in response to a food safety or quality control related query.

Internal functions relating to production and product issues at Deli Spices:

  • Take part in taste panels and/or functional evaluations of raw materials, spice blends and end products with other members of the technical team
  • Replacement of a raw materials – Advising staff on evaluation testing procedures for the replacement of a raw material due to temporary supplier shortages, discontinuation of raw material by supplier or price constraints or internal ingredient consolidation.
  • When applicable, advice and assistance with the product evaluations as requested R&D Executive and/or R&D staff.
  • When needed, signing off loaded job cards with detailed replacement instructions.
  • Where applicable, formulating rework cards for production errors and batches out of specification to be reworked into the next manufactured batch of the same or similar product blend.
  • Where applicable, formulating rework cards for expired or returned stock to be reworked into a currently manufactured batch of the same or similar product blend.
  • Extracting information from Syspro for internal use by Technical staff, using MS Query and Excel, and Excel formulas and filters e.g. ingredient where used reports for currently manufactured items
  • Correcting errors or outdated information on Syspro.
  • Setting and evaluating staff KPIs as relates to the QC department.
  • Regular review of staff work outputs and competencies and training as required.

  • Ensuring appropriate on-line management of quality as relates to allergens, metal detection, foreign matter control, cleaning and related quality requirements.

  • Ensuring appropriate on-line management of quality in the Blending Department

  • Ensure all QC related documents are completed accurately and with integrity.
  • Ensure that systems and checks are in place to verify that all batch production records (job cards) are completed accurately and with integrity.
  • Ensure that NCRs and ARs are raised and completed by appropriate departments as relates to deviations detected and raised by QC.
  • Review all NCRs and, where appropriate, ARs raised against the QC department and ensure that appropriate CAPA is in place to prevent recurrence.
  • Work with PPIT and Production Management to ensure that appropriate Blending and Packing procedures are implemented as required, when new products are introduced into the Factory.
  • Assist with the development of BI reports and SharePoint systems for the effective management and control of the QC laboratories. Reports will also be used to feedback to management on the operational effectiveness in the QC laboratory.

Digiworks (DW) product database and QC testing system Management: communicating concepts and updates required for improvements to DW program for the exchange of information within the R&D Department focusing on:

  • Specification sheet generation; and
  • the QC batch testing and COA generation.
  • availability of pdf COA’s and spec sheets to Deli Spices Distributors sales reps via the Intranet on the website.
  • the management of regular updating of this database by QC / technical staff.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

  • Honesty & Integrity
  • Strong problem analysis and troubleshooting skills
  • Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to work accurately in a busy and demanding environment.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate at all levels within the organisation.
  • Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Positive and energetic attitude with a hands-on approach to work.
  • A good communicator both in verbal and written form.
  • Ability to hold all employees accountable to deliver on their required outputs.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Appropriate Qualification in Food Sciences, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry or equivalent.
  • Minimum 5 years experienced in Quality at a Food Manufacturing facility or similar industry.

Desired Skills:

  • Syspro
  • Complaint Investigations
  • Quality auditing

Desired Work Experience:

  • 5 to 10 years Quality Control

Desired Qualification Level:

  • Diploma

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