QUALITY ASSURANCE TECHNICIAN

Title: Quality Assurance Technician
Salary Range: $21.00
Status: Non-Exempt
Days/Shifts: 1st Shift
Location: Salinas, CA
Reports to: Quality Assurance Supervisor/Manager

Quality Assurance Technician

Pre-operation

• Accompany sanitation to walk the facility and verify cleanliness of the facility including equipment integrity of the belts and don’t represent a food safety risk.
• Calibrate equipment such as metal detectors, scales, thermometers.
• Document observations on standard department forms and report concerns timely to sanitation for resolution.

Finished Product

• Inspect finished packaged product to assure compliance with quality standards and tolerances; test processing parameters to meet standards.
• Responsible for the Quality Assurance of all finished product such as taking samples, evaluating, and recording results for the following:
  • Metal detector tests
  • Wash water monitoring
  • Wash water turbidity test
  • Water temperature tests
  • Evaluating finished products
  • Releasing finished products
  • Shelf-Life sample collection

• Complete Quality Assurance tasks and update this reporting into the computer system. This includes following a prescribed set of instructions to enter results of tests and samples into a computer.
• Communicate with the Shift Supervisor and QA Team members on the quality and condition of the Holds, Unusual Occurrences and CCP Issues.
• Communicate with the Shift Supervisor and QA Team members about quality issues and pack quality, labeling problems, packaging, and pallet stacking.
• Work closely with the supervisory personnel and other QA personnel.
• Run up to 6 lines during break and lunches.
• Work in a team environment
• Occasionally other duties may be assigned.

Receiving & Shipping

• Raw material (new, aged or field samples) which may include pulp temperature of product, collect samples, evaluate samples for defects and attributes, release in Navision.
• Communicate with management through email why product is on hold.
• Collect raw/finished that were placed on hold and take samples to QA lab for review.
• Place hold/dispose tags on pallets.
• Remove product from hold to include placing appropriate tags on pallets and releasing product in Navision.
• Daily, walk the perimeter of the plant which includes using a set of defined instructions and checklist to document the cleanliness of the plant and readiness for operations. Enter data into an excel form and send via email.
• Evaluate frozen/warm loads and determine how much of the load is salvageable and communicate with management through email.
• Occasionally visually inspect finished product prior to shipping per customer service request.
• Review transfer trucks conditions for food safety/quality. This includes a visual inspection of cleanliness, temperature of the truck and load, taking pictures documenting temperature, document conditions on company provided forms, send findings via email.

All

• Evaluate fallen totes/cases and packaging material and determine how much of the product is salvageable.
• Assist in training new QA Technicians as needed.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with those individuals contacted in the course of workday and the ability to interact effectively with the co-workers and management.

SAFETY/GMP/Misc (if applicable)

• Maintain and work in accord with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration norms.
• Adhere to GMP’s in accordance with company policy

Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Basic understanding of computer skills, Microsoft Excel and Word preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to complete standard department forms.
• Able to work independently and in a team environment.
• Knowledge of company products, packaging, freshness control program, quality standards and tolerances preferred.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) preferred.
• Two (2) years related work experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Prior knowledge of “use by” and Julian dates for product labeling preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Literate in English and or Spanish. Bi-lingual English/Spanish preferred.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Basic math skills (i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentages).
• Demonstrated ability to use a calculator .

LICENSES/CERTIFICATION:
None

REASONING ABILITY:

• Possess ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Must be able to provide proof and eligibility to work in the United States.
• Pass pre-employment drug screen required.
• Must be at least 18 years of age to work in a food processing plant.
• Prior experience in a fresh vegetable or food processing plant a plus.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be a current member of or willing to sign up with the Teamsters Local Union No. 856.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to use a handheld scanning device such as, hold the device, follow screen prompts and instructions, and push buttons on the device.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is consistently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, outside weather conditions, and extreme cold, 36 degrees. The employee will be working inside a production and/or warehouse facility where the use of chemical substances is present and used. Employees’ work is also subject to the pressures of time constraints and deadlines. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and loud when working in the production/warehouse facility.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) English
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Spanish
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) English
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Spanish
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)