QUALITY ASSURANCE TECHNICIAN

The Quality Assurance Technician position is responsible for performing physical and visual inspections to verify product specification, quality, and food safety procedure compliance. This position reports to the Quality Assurance Lead and/or Supervisor

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned by Supervisor as production demands may require:

• Must comply with all Food Safety Quality Assurance policies and USDA regulations. Modeling and coaching these expectations to facility team members.
• Complete inspections to verify product meets internal and customer specifications and takes appropriate actions when a non-compliance is observed.
• Accurately conducts product reviews to meet product grading, packaging, and weight compliance procedures.
• Monitors team members work practices and addresses any deficiencies by informing the team member of the nonconformance and reporting the issue to their supervisor.
• Monitoring product processing areas and practices to mitigate any potential for foreign material contamination.
• Inspects equipment for cleanliness and proper working condition prior to start up, or during process (based on shift) and records findings in a neat and legible manner.
• Responsible for collecting, tracking, and implementing numerical data.
• Must be able to communicate properly with all levels of management and USDA.

Performs other related duties as assigned by Supervisor to support production demands as may be specified by customer or client.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS:

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to physically perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS :

• Must have minimal computers skill and/or willing to learn company software to complete their job assignments.
• Must be able to move, open, and inspect plant produced products.
• Must be able to stand on concrete surfaces up to four (4) continuous hours with a minimum of 8 hours per shift.
• Must be physically able to navigate to all areas of the processing facility and follow all safety procedures.
• Must be able to perform strenuous work in a damp environment with a wide range of temperatures.
• Must be dependable and prompt with strong integrity and work ethic.
• Must be able to work independently and exhibit PPC’s values to uphold the Quality Pillar and FSQA programs.
• Must have the ability to understand and follow instructions and to learn the methods and practices used in poultry processing.

CANDIDATES ARE EXEPTECT TO:

• Must be able to work varying days (including weekends) when processing schedules change.
• Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so their work is done efficiently and cooperatively with coworkers and leadership teams.
• Must cross train in other departments as QA, which will affect schedule.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

High school diploma or equivalent

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIRED:

NONE

JOB SKILLS:

• Math with knowledge of averages, percent, and fractions.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Must be able to read and write English.
• Must be able to use a calculator.
• Must know how to use a ruler.
• Must be able to use a tablet for monitoring checks.

TRAINING REQUIREMENT/METHODS:

All employees are required to attend employee and safety orientation prior to performing the above duties. Once employee completes this training, they will be assigned to a supervisor who will further orient the employee to the workplace, introduce him/her to employees and other supervision, demonstrate work assignment and explain ingress and egress procedures to and from workstation. A training buddy may be assigned to new employees for a period to assist in further training and indoctrination. Special training may be required in order to meet certain customer requirements.

TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES:

Those responsible for training and indoctrination may include HR Representative, Safety Director, QA Supervisor, Lead Workers, and Veteran QA Techs as assigned.

METHOD OF TRACKING EMPLOYEE PROGRESS:

The supervisor is accountable for tracking employee progress and performance.

EXIT TRAINING FOR MEASURING TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS

A specific probationary period is assigned to all employees hired to evaluate the employee effectiveness and performance. At the end of this period the supervisor will evaluate the job performance of each new employee utilizing current forms and procedures in effect at that time. The employee will be rated and evaluated on essential work duties listed above as well as attendance, tardiness, interaction with co-workers and management, attitudes, and work actions. Unacceptable performance of duties and disciplinary actions will be documented on corrective action reports and appropriate personnel records. Absent of any negative actions, the employee may be eligible for a wage increase according to wage and salary policies in effect at that time.

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, and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stoop or kneel and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 70 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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 regularly exposed to wet and humid conditions and moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to high precarious places, extreme cold; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (List any and all personal safety or health protection equipment and gear required by either regulatory or sanitary procedures)

• Ear plugs/muffs
• Rubber gloves
• Cotton gloves
• Hair/Beard Nets
• Apron
• Cutting gloves
• Safety glasses
• Smock
• Bump cap

SAFETY FACTORS TO BE AWARE OF

• Know how to use and locate the emergency stop switch.
• Know location of primary and secondary emergency exits.
• Know and use proper lifting techniques.
• Always be aware of pallet jack traffic (electric and hand jack).
• Use caution on wet floors – wear proper footwear.

NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the daily work being performed by partners assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills or customer specifications and processes required of personnel so assigned.