Job Summary:
The Quality Improvement Analyst is instrumental in elevating the quality of our food manufacturing operations and products across the North Carolina and Midwest regions. This individual will be responsible for identifying, analyzing, and addressing quality issues, ensuring our products meet or exceed industry standards. Moreover, this team member will champion compliance under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations and actively drive the implementation of Lean Six Sigma and other continuous improvement methodologies. The Quality Improvement Analyst will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and maintain the Company’s commitment to producing safe and high-quality foods.
Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities:
- Develops and implements quality improvement (QI) initiatives to enhance efficiency and product quality.
- Ensures compliance with industry standards and Food Safety regulations including, Food & Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP).
- Maintains accurate records of quality control activities, inspections, and test results.
- Provides comprehensive training to QA Team Managers on quality control processes and standards, ensuring seamless knowledge transfer throughout the Operations Departments.
- Monitors and analyzes quality data to identify trends and areas for improvement in production, packing, and quality control; generates reports and presents findings to management.
- Investigates product and process failures at various facility locations, analyzing root causes and recommending proper course of action.
- Ensures timely communication and feedback to customers and internal Sales group.
- Analyzes trends in consumer and customer complaints related to quality and food safety issues.
- Travels to different site locations to conduct audits, review processes, and develop QI programs and procedures, ensuring consistency and compliance.
- Conducts thorough internal and external audits, including the co-packers and outside warehouses audits, to ensure adherence to quality standards.
- Updates and maintains the QA site on The Table, ensuring all relevant information is current and accessible to the team.
- Performs additional duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to identify and resolve quality issues.
- Ability to work autonomously under minimal supervision.
- Thorough knowledge of Food Safety regulations, including FDA, USDA, and HACCP.
- Leadership capabilities to guide and motivate teams in implementing quality processes, policies, improvements, and to achieve quality targets.
- Possessing a working knowledge of poultry processing is desired.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality products.
- In-depth understanding of Food Science principles, Quality Improvement processes, and Lean Six Sigma tools.
- Proficient in Microsoft Suites (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, etc.), Application System/400 (AS400), and Power BI.
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Quality Management, Microbiology, or a related field is required.
- A minimum of 3+ years of experience in quality control and process improvement. Within the food manufacturing industry is preferred.
- Experience with SAP or other Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems preferred.
- Possessing a Lean Six Sigma or HACCP certification is highly desired.
- Required to obtain within the first year of employment.
Working Conditions:
- Office and Plant work environments. Possibility of being exposed to varying conditions in the Plant setting, such as cold areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions.
- Physical requirements of the position include sitting, standing, and walking for prolonged periods of time.
- Maintains a flexible schedule to accommodate facility conflicts and audit requirements.
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 30%.
- Must be able to travel to various locations (processing plants, offices, etc.) within the North Carolina & Midwest regions.
