Quality Control Technician

SUMMARY:
To ensures effective quality control through the verification of scales and incubators.

POSITION INFO:

Quality Control Technician

Job Purpose

To ensures effective quality control through the verification of scales and incubators, execution of the manufacturing start up procedure, efficient packaging analysis and inspections.

Key Accountabilities and Outputs

Verifications

• Daily verifications of laboratory equipment

Manufacturing Start UP Procedure

• Check that the skew bar is set at the correct height, the barcode stickers and coding on bottle have the correct information and is legible
• Check the torques on all capping heads
• Check that labels, preforms and closures conform to spec
• Report any non-conformances to the Line Supervisor and QC Supervisor
• Authorize the line supervisor to proceed once start up results have been passed

Packaging Analysis

• Testing of preforms, such as height, weight, neck finish dimensions and recording of batch numbers for tarceability
• Testing of blown bottles such as height, burst pressure, sectional weight, stress cracking, fill point capacity, drop test, visual inspections, wall thickness, base weight, neck finish dimensions
• Testing of closures such as height, skew cap detection, outer diameter, inner seal, secure seal
• Label Inspections to ensure the application is correct on  visual parameters such a as bond line creep, damaged label graphics, flagged label, label placement gap, label repeat, misapplied/ mismatched label, out of registration, torn label, wrinkled label, visible glue.
• Testing of labels for glue application
• Rinse residue tests

Inspections

• Inspection of the Date and Batch code applications to ensure it is legible and correct
• Rinse pressure  Inspections
• Inspection of barcode stickers to ensure compliance with product running on line
• Inspection of Shrink wrapping
• Conducting Tension force measurements on Palletized product
• Documentation and Record Keeping
• Recording of all results
• Raising non-conformances to the QC Supervisor, Isolation of Non- conforming product/packaging

Sampling

• Ensure that the correct number of samples are taken for the relevant departments such as QC, QA, Retention and Micro

Final Product

• Ensure that the product meets the Final Product Specifications
• Conduct all tests in accordance with the established testing plan, which includes but not limitied to Brix, CO2, pH, Sensory etc
• Raising non-conformances to the QC Supervisor, Isolation of Non- conforming product
• Collaborate with production and other relevant departments on root cause cause investigations on internal non conformities

Water

• Perform all tests in accordacne with the established testing plan
• Raise non-conformances to the QC Supervisor

GMP of the lines

• Ensure that lines are clean at all times

General

• Ensure that all Good Lab Practices are implemented and adhered to
• Ensure good houskeeping of the lab and associated work stations
• Esnure accurate sampling and analysis of in process and final products
• Ensure that the testing schedules with the required frequencies and sampling sizes etc are adhered to
• Foster a positive and collaborative working relationship with Operations
• Escalate any quality or food safety risks to the relevant functional heads

Adherence to the health, safety, food and environmental standards

• Staff shall adhere to all Food Safety Policies and PRP's and shall adhere to and enforce all food safety requirements at all times
• Staff shall adhere to Health, Safety & Environmental Policies and PRP's and shall adhere to and enforce all Health and Safety requirements at all times
• Visitor and Contractor Policy - staff shall ensure that visitors or contractors entering the facility are signed in, escorted and wear PPE, are aware of the hygiene policies and do not smoke, eat or drink inside the facility
• Code of Practice - staff shall maintain high levels of personal hygiene in accordance with the code of conduct
• Handwashing Procedure - Ensuring staff are cleaning and sanitizing hands efficiently before handling the product.
• Physical Contamination Control Policy and Procedure - Staff shall be aware of the potential of physical product contamination. Staff is aware of control measures to prevent physical contamination.

• Safety, Health and Environment Policy - Staff take reasonable measures to ensure health and safety hazards do not occur. Should an accident occur, staff shall be aware of the procedure of reporting the incident.
• First Aid Policy - Staff are aware of the first aider on site. Staff is trained to report injuries and illness to supervisors/first aiders.
• Conversant with relevant business information, policies, processes and procedures
• Maintains expected performance standards
• Enforce compliance with relevant legislative and statutory requirements
• Enforce GMP's and conduct themselves in a manner conducive w