Title: Quality Assurance Technician - Yuma, AZ (Seasonal)
Salary Range: $21.00
Status: Non-Exempt
Days/Shifts: 1st Shift
Location: Yuma, CA
Reports to: Quality Assurance Supervisor/Manager
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GENERAL DISCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE:
Follow defined company quality assurance tasks and standards and report any variances. Follows predefined food safety and quality policies, procedures and instructions, forms, and checklists in the execution of daily duties. Work is routine, repetitive, and there is no latitude to alter or deviate from established food safety and quality procedures.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS / DUTIES OF THE POSITION:
receive
Visual Inspection. Visually inspect trucks and document the condition of the trailer, refrigeration unit, and air chute. Visually inspect and document the condition of pallets. Pulp product. Remove pallets/bins off trucks and pulp the product. This entails using and placing a calibrated thermometer into pallets/bins to get a temperature. Write down the temperature on a paper Receiving form and later transfer the information by typing it into an already established excel sheet. Done in the English language.
Micro/food safety validation. Make sure product has been released for harvest by ensuring micro testing was completed therefore releasing product for harvest. This entails accessing an already established excel file in the computer and looking up field ticket information and checking to ensure the grower is on this excel list. If grower is not on the list and/or micro testing has not been completed, send an email to Ag Ops and food safety personnel notifying them that the product is on hold. Put product on hold until further instruction.
Pull sample (down stack). Take several samples from different locations within a group of 4-5 pallets. This includes Removing totes or boxes from pallets, weighing between 18-22 pounds, to access product for sampling. Use clear plastic bags and place approximately 2-3 pounds of raw product into the bag. Tag the pallet to denote which samples came from which segments of a pallet. Write the following information on the plastic bag: pallet information, segment of the pallet that corresponds with the sample, and ranch and lot.
Grade/ Evaluate/ Release/ hold NAV. Evaluate samples to determine if the product is premium or non-premium. This includes visually inspecting for defects i.e., each defect is segregated into a pile, weighing each pile to determine the percentage of defect, and filling out paper forms with grower ranch lot, harvest time, defects, premium/non-premium classification, Hold status, temperature, deviation status. Enter data into already established spreadsheet. Log into NAV and enter the classification of premium or non-premium, percentage of defects, or place on HOLD. NAV will either pass/fail based on preprogrammed parameters.
Send Hold/Evaluation Email with pictures to a predefined distribution group. Take pictures of non-premium product defects, attach to an existing email format, indicate the percentage of defects, and send email. Prepare Hold tags by writing date, time, lot, and cause on the Hold sticker. Place Hold sticker on applicable pallets.
Save Holds, and scan to Salinas. If product placed on hold per SOP, complete and unusual occurrence form and scan and email to Salinas. This is a handwritten form.
Remove product from Hold to include placing tags on pallets and releasing product in NAV.
Evaluate frozen/warm loads and determine how much of the load is salvageable and communicate with management through email.
Evaluate fallen totes/cases and packaging material and determine how much of the product is salvageable.
FDA Testing Protocols. If FDA shows up, notify QA management personnel immediately and follow established SOP and document the same activities etc. that the FDA is doing.
As needed perform specialized evaluations for product development and/or department needs.
cooling
Validate chlorine level for hydro cooling process before start up or during change over. Place test strip into the residual water of the cooling tube to obtain a chlorine level reading. Write the parts per million (PPM) of chlorine onto a form. Ensure there are 4 ppm of chlorine. If above 4ppm, contact Cool Fresh and instruct them to rinse the tube and refill it with water and then retest.
pick/stage/load
Inspect truck/trailer and document on a form the cleanliness of the trailer, temperature of product, temperature of the trailer, refrigerator unit setting, validate that Cool Fresh places a temp recorded in the trailer and its location. Loads that go east require every pallet to be pulped in random locations throughout each pallet.
JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:
- Basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel, and Word. Demonstrated ability to compose and send email, input data into an Excel worksheet and or Word Document, attached photos to emails or documents.
- Prior knowledge of "use by" and Julian dates for product labeling preferred. On the job training will be provided.
- Language skills with the ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to complete standard department forms.
- Bi-lingual and bi-literate English/Spanish preferred.
- Basic math skills i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages.
- Possess ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
- Knowledge of company products, packaging, and freshness control program and quality standards and tolerances preferred.
- Able to work independently and work in a team environment.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
WORK HOUR & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
- 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.
EEO STATEMENT: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) English
https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/fmlaen.pdf
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Spanish
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlasp.pdf
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) English
https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/eppac.pdf
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Spanish
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/eppaspan.pdf
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/VETS/legacy/files/USERRA_Private.pdf
Department: QA & Food Safety
This is a non-management position
This is a full-time position
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