Quality and Food Safety Manager - Ring Container Technologies

Job Purpose

To develop and ensure effective implementation of the plant’s quality and food safety management systems in accordance with product specifications, regulations, and the plant’s chosen third-party food safety standards, either Safe Quality Food (SQF) or British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Key Responsibilities And Duties

Maintain a controlled Quality Management System (QMS) consisting of detailed policies and procedures supporting the corporate quality policy; federal, state, and local regulatory requirements; and food safety/defense guidelines to administer and document standardized practices in all aspects of plant operations.

• Coordinate an annual QMS review to ensure employee compliance to policies, that policies and procedures reflect current practices and requirements, and to identify issues and trends with any related systems and policies/procedures.
• Ensure effective implementation of all related policies, procedures, and systems.
• Maintain and review all applicable records.
• Lead a quality and food safety committee to assist in implementation, review, and training of the QMS.

Develop and implement food safety, food defense, and quality systems to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local government regulatory food safety requirements and Safe Quality Foods Institute (SQFI) or British Retail Consortium (BRC) standards.

• Serve as the Food Defense and HACCP Coordinator, and where applicable, as the primary SQF Practitioner.
• Train employees in food safety requirements and related policies.
• Lead the HACCP team and manage the written HACCP plan which effectively identifies, minimizes and/or eliminates potential food safety and food defense hazards.
• Maintain a material traceability system, including performing semi-annual Mock Recall exercises.
• Review and maintain documentation related to quality and food safety activities.
• Where applicable, maintain UNDOT hazardous material training and certification.

Perform and/or coordinate internal audits at scheduled and regular intervals:

• Audit quality system documentation and data daily for accuracy and completion.
• Audit the entire facility routinely to ensure compliance with food safety and food defense requirements; oversee corrective actions and resolution.
• Maintain accuracy, completion and compliance of the Master Cleaning Schedule, Line Clearance and Sanitation Standards, and Preventative Maintenance Program as regard to food safety.
• Audit pest control documentation and services performed; follow up on opportunities to reduce risk.
• Audit machine process records, and drive for improvement.
• Audit the facility for Essential Glass, Brittle Plastics and Ceramics breakage.
• Audit trailer cleaning/inspection, shipping, receiving, and storage/handling system records and practices for cleanliness, food safety compliance, and proper documentation.

Develop, implement, and maintain quality and process control systems, in compliance with corporate quality policies, to ensure product quality meets design specifications and customer expectations.

• Manage testing, inspection, and measurement control plans for product and inline inspection equipment; train production personnel in testing/measurement methodology.
• Ensure that plant-applicable product and packaging specifications and drawings are current and accurate in the corporate Specifications System.
• Review, evaluate and communicate Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Statistical Quality Control (SQC) data for consistency, accuracy and compliance to internal standards, customer specifications, and control plan requirements.
• Coordinate resolution of quality issues with plant personnel; communicate out of specification conditions to the production personnel and the management team.
• Implement nonconforming control to ensure that all plant personnel can identify product and materials for rejection, rework, etc., and to ensure that all customers receive product that meets the customers’ standards; provide timely disposition for nonconforming materials.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams to conduct effective problem solving to solve production and quality issues; train personnel in appropriate problem solving methodologies (SPC, Cause Mapping, 5-Whys, 8-D analysis, DMAIC, etc.).
• Enact the CQV protocol as required for new or revised equipment, molds, and processes; ensure capability and quality meets approval for production and shipment.

Maintain C.A.T. stations and NWA Quality Monitor/Analyst applications on local computers.

• Maintain measurement instrument accuracy and ensure the proper instruments are available for all product testing.
• Calibrate instruments as necessary and document all calibration and repairs.
• Perform Gage R&R Studies as needed.

Utilize the corporate Complaint System to track and resolve customer complaints in a timely manner.

• Document customer complaints in the corporate Complaint System; follow up with updates in a timely manner.
• Communicate customer complaint details and corrective actions to customers and plant personnel.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams to investigate customer complaints; provide assistance with immediate corrective action and long term preventative action; utilize effective cause mapping to determine causes and solutions.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of complaint corrective actions and identify trends of customer complaints and internal nonconformance.
• Proactively coordinate, participate in, and document Customer Based Improvement Team (CBIT) meetings to build rapport.
• Collaborate with suppliers to maintain and improve raw material and packaging quality.

Responsible for continuing/implementing the Ring Family Culture in the facility.

• Employees are the first priority, production is secondary.
• Welcome employees to the plant every day inquiring about their personal lives and showing that Ring cares about our employees.
• Participate in pre-shift meetings to explain the day’s needs and concerns and emphasize the importance of safety, not only for the individual but for everyone in the plant.
• Manage by walking around during the shift initiating conversations with questions regarding the well-being of the employee.
• Catch someone doing something well and praise. Recognize their efforts.
• Understand that all employees are people and all of us have challenges. Search for the reason behind the issue, actively listen and resolve to the benefit of all.

Responsible for leading and supporting employee engagement initiatives.

• Conduct focused walks semi-weekly through the plant to engage with the employees.
• Utilizing active listening skills, ask probing questions that encourage employee input on issues or opportunities related to safety, quality, performance, goals, scheduling, teamwork, etc.,
• Note opportunities for improvement and potential solutions based on employee input.
• Develop strategies that all for employee led teams to implement or ‘try’
• Provide ongoing feedback to employee led teams and support efforts that lead to improved results, even during times of initial failure.
• Celebrate wins and recognize employees participating on successful teams.

Responsible For Leading And Supporting Corporate Initiatives, Such As

• Leading and participating on corporate sponsored teams
• Serving as CQV data reviewer, and following up to ensure verifications are completed
• Training newly hired Quality System Managers
• Assisting plants prepare for SQF audits
• Participating with purchasing on supplier audits
• Attending conferences to keep the company informed of changes in food safety regulations

Experience, Educational And Technical Qualifications

The Quality & Food Safety Manager position requires a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a quality or food safety professional role in a food processing or food packaging manufacturing environment. Knowledge of SPC, SQC, metrology, problem solving, internal auditing, HACCP, Good Manufacturing Practices, and food safety audit certification (such as AIB or SQF) is desired. He/she must possess strong computer skills, professionalism, self-motivation, attention to detail, and the desire and focus to improve the business. A four-year college degree required; preferably in a related food science, biology or engineering field.

Ring Container Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of Ring to apply recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation and professional development practices without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or certain classifications based on genetic information.