Quality Technician- 1st Shift

Balchem Corp.; Albert Lea, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Balchem Corporation is seeking a QA Technician to support manufacturing operations by ensuring compliance with QMS, SOPs and product specifications.

You will work with cross-functional teams to meet safety, quality, and continuous improvement goals, perform day-to-day QA tasks, monitor documentation, calibrate equipment, and contribute to a positive safety culture.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Experience with QA in food manufacturing.
• Familiarity with SQF, FDA FSMA, HACCP.
• Proficient in documenting and reporting quality issues.

Responsibilities

• Monitor documentation and report quality issues.
• Verify Critical Control Points and calibrate lab equipment.
• Perform environmental swabs and inspections.
• Test raw materials and finished products.
• Lead CAPA investigations and corrective actions.
• Ensure safe, clean, and organized work environment.
• Follow QMS, SOPs, and food safety plans.
• Communicate non-conformances to internal/external customers.
• Support cross-functional teams to meet quality goals.

Skills

Quality Assurance

SOPs

QMS

Food safety

Attention to detail

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

Pay: up to $21/hr and based on experience.

Position Summary:

The Quality Assurance (QA) Technician supports manufacturing operations through carrying out activities to verify compliance with the site Quality Management System (QMS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Product Specifications. They work with the cross-functional site team to meet or exceed the personnel safety, food safety, and food quality goals of the company. This position exemplifies a positive culture that encourages continuous improvement and collaboration.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performing daily tasks such as monitoring employee documentation, reporting of quality issues, verifying Critical Control Points, checking weights, calibrating scales, probes, thermometers, moisture analyzers, and other lab equipment, etc.
• Ensuring employee compliance with allergen procedures, GMP’s, SSOP’s and Food Safety Plan (HAACP)
• Assisting in the performance of weekly environmental swabs and monthly plant, glass, brittle plastic, and ceramic inspections
• Conducting Pre-Operational activities
• Testing and evaluating raw material and finished product
• Writing HOLD tags and assigning and/or assisting with the disposition of product
• Reviewing finished production folders as part of the positive release program
• Must maintain department safety rules compliance and be a positive safety role model.
• Responsible for ensuring an organized, clean and safe work environment.
• Follow all Food safety practices and processes applicable to the department.
• Execute what is required by the company QMS.
• Monitor and maintain all food safety activities as part of daily tasks.
• Enforce food safety plan while producing product.
• Promote food safety and quality to all departments
• Support and assist the manufacturing teams to meet customer and product quality performance requirements.
• Implement department Quality Management Systems (QMS) requirements. Strive to promote a world-class Quality organization.
• Effectively represent the quality team and QA issues to all internal and external customers in a timely manner.
• Communicate non-conformances and lead root cause analysis investigations followed up by corrective action
• Clear sense of urgency and ability to manage priorities to meet immediate needs and long-term goals.
• Ability to manage time and workload efficiently, and the ability to prioritize and modify priorities accordingly
• Strong safety, food-safety, and quality orientation and ability to promote these standards in a cross-functional environment.
• Self-motivation and ability to work independently. Ability and willingness to provide support and training to employees on all shifts.
• Ability to troubleshoot and provide QA centered solutions in a cross-functional team environment and to lead a CAPA process.
• Demonstrated ability to work and develop others in a team environment
• Sensitive to other cultures/backgrounds, able to work in a multi-cultural workplace
• Ability and willingness to learn, practice, and improve documented work procedures
• Demonstrated ability to function in a fast-paced environment
• Verbal and written communication skills sufficient to discuss, develop, and implement plans.
• High sensitivity to quality and on time delivery of materials and services

Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years or older
• Knowledge of food manufacturing operations and equipment.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
• Experience with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, and Word
• Able to perform basic mathematical equations
• Ability to adapt in a team and/or individual setting to allow achievement of company goals
• Established communication, problem solving, and attention to detail skills
• Demonstrates punctuality and dependably in all aspects of work Ability to lift 50 lbs. and required to stand, walk, sit and reach with hands and arms.
• Familiarity with SQF, FDA (FSMA), HACCP and other regulatory and industry guidelines and requirements

Balchem Corporation, and its subsidiaries, offers a competitive salary and benefits package and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.