Quality Control Technician 1

Job Summary: 

The Quality Control Technician is responsible for ensuring the Bowman Andros Products processes and products meet and/or exceed Federal, State, Company, and customer standards and expectations. The QC Tech works on the plant floor performing Quality Control tests and checks according to detailed specifications, pulling required samples and verifying thermal processes. 

Safety

Bowman Andros is committed to maintaining a strong safety culture focused on preventing injuries and providing all employees with a safe, healthy, and productive work environment.

Every employee at Bowman Andros is expected to demonstrate a personal commitment to safety by following established procedures, identifying and reporting hazards, and actively participating in safety initiatives. Safety is a shared responsibility, and we believe that all incidents are preventable through awareness, accountability, and continuous improvement.

We strive to empower our teammates to take ownership of safety, look out for one another, and contribute to a workplace where safety is always the top priority.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ensures that all work conforms to food safety and worker safety (HACCP, OSHA) regulations and company policies.
• Performs preoperational checks including swabs, water testing, equipment and product checks. This includes food safety CCP screen checks and acidified pH CCP checks as applicable. 
• Pulls samples from the line within specified time frames, and transports to the lab for Day +1 testing and CCP testing (where applicable). 
• Notifies appropriate management of out of specification results on any testing or checks having to be completed, where applicable, so actions can be taken.
• Initiates Quality Holds on product not meeting specifications.
• Ensures all customer requested samples (e.g. new trial samples, standard run customer samples, etc) are pulled as specified on the manufacturing specs.
• Records QC check results and sample information in Redzone.
• Ensures that all documentation filled out is complete and accurate. 
• Organize and maintain upkeep of the Retain room.
• Understands, interprets and can explain USDA grading of apple sauce,
• Assist and support the functions and responsibilities of the Quality Control Supervisor and Quality Manager.
• Assists employees when questions about quality arise. Generate a good rapport with production line workers and front-line supervisors by providing insight into potential issues with the upcoming shift and to promote less errors during production. 
• Understands the production process flow and is actively engaged with the operational lines and teammates on the lines. 
• Follows 5S principles in Quality Control areas; embraces and practices continuous improvement program at Bowman Andros.
• Sets up, adjusts and operates all lab equipment and instruments in order to conduct lab testing. 
• When requested, tests samples of products and raw materials (sauces, ingredients, and packaging) to verify conformity to specifications. 
• Maintains clean and orderly work areas, to include general housekeeping, workstations, overall appearance of the lab, Retain rooms, equipment, re-stocking of the supplies and maintaining calibration of lab instruments.
• Troubleshoots lab equipment if issues occur.
• Role model, promote and assist with enforcing all Bowman Andros Products Food Safety policies, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) and Quality standards for all teammates.
• Assist in promoting staff to follow safety policies and safe work practices. 
• Performs inspections and maintains records to include corrective action responses for all noted deficiencies.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Preferred: Associate’s degree or equivalent of:
  1. Two years related experience and/ or training
  2. Combination of education and experience
• Basic algebra: reliably add, subtract, multiply, divide, take averages, etc.
• Proficient written and verbal communication:
  1. Detailed technical writing skills- documenting, emailing, note taking
  2. Excellent public speaking skills- relaying information, discussing issues with co-workers, presenting information.
• Previous work experience in a food manufacturing setting.
• Ability to work effectively with various lab equipment including but not limited to: scales, torque meter, refractometer, pH meter, ATP Meter, Bostwick meter, manual titrator, colorimeter, etc.
• Regular and reliable attendance required.
• Has the ability to become proficient in the BAP WMS (warehouse management system).
• Knowledge of Food Safety regulations and manufacturing processes.
• Teamwork- ability to work well with others to solve problems, complete tasks and achieve company goals.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment where priorities change frequently.
• Capable of reading and interpreting data.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and take initiative to resolve issues independently when discovered.
• Self-motivated and task driven.
• Able to communicate constructively and professionally, firmly focused on a quality mentality, when faced with crucial decision making across departments.
• Must be able to work overtime and weekends as necessary. 

Working Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. The QC Tech is required to work in an office environment, on the production floor, and in a lab. While performing the duties of this job, the teammate frequently will be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, extreme heat and/or cold, and will involve exposure to chemicals in lab settings during testing. The teammate occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. The incumbent will be exposed to loud noises from production equipment and thus will be required to wear PPE. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be high at times due to production and mechanical equipment noise. PPE Requirements: Ear plugs, safety composite/steel toe shoes, safety glasses, High visibility vest. GMPs: Hairnet, beard net, lab coat 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be performed by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the teammate is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle, or feel objects, equipment, or controls; reach with hands and arms; see, talk and /or hear. The QC Tech must be able to spend almost all their time standing or walking for up to 10 hours daily. The teammate frequently is required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, sit, crouch, or crawl, frequently traveling up and down stairs and other uneven work surfaces. The teammate is occasionally required to taste, touch or smell. Teammates must be able to lift, carry, push and/or pull, and balance up to 25 pounds.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of teammates under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.