Angela Turner
Middlesboro,KY
Summary
At Smithfield Foods, I leveraged my expertise in product inspection and statistical process control to enhance product quality, in order to achieve a significant reduction in compliance issues. Collaboratively approaches and proficiency in FSQA policies that have attributed to successful internal audits and improved food safety standards, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and team success. Senior Technician in FSQA department, boasting 17 years of experience. Dubbed many times in the past as the "Walking FSQA Encyclopedia," due to mastery of policies and procedures and familiarity of the processes of product. Places Food Safety as #1 priority, with quality coming in at a close second. Part of an adept FSQA team that enhances production quality with methodical and organized approach. Good recordkeeping, data entry and process management skills. Results-driven individual with a solid track record in delivering quality work. Known for excellent communication and teamwork abilities, with a commitment to achieving company goals and delivering exceptional results. Passionate about continuous learning and professional development. Industrious, forward-thinking and fastidious about maintaining optimal standards. Proactive and versatile professional with a dedication to quickly adapting to new challenges. Strong problem-solving abilities and works well with coworkers. Focused on supporting team success and achieving positive results.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Quality Assurance Food Safety Technician
Smithfield Foods, Inc
Middlesboro, KY
09.2007 - Current
- Collaborated with the product development team to establish quality criteria for new products.
- Participated in regular meetings with team members to discuss quality concerns and improvements.
- Assisted in creating quality audits to identify and track defects in products prior to mass production.
- Prepared detailed reports to communicate the results of quality inspection activities to management.
- Utilized comprehensive quality assurance programs to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
- Reported updates in product specifications for new product materials, and the need for an update in the product specifications and DCS (Data Collection System) audit for the affected product, maintaining optimal organization for maximum productivity. Inspected new label shipments and compared them to the correct label in the database to ensure that the labels received are the correct labels prior to approval and being released to the line.
- Coordinated with production teams to address quality issues and implement corrective actions.
- Ensured the ability to track all nonconforming material by entering all tracking information into our Data Collection System (DCS), and providing all appropriate documents.
- Randomly selected product samples at various stages of production for testing.
- Implemented best practices for ensuring high levels of product quality.
- Studied and ensured compliance with quality assurance policies and procedures.
- Recommended changes in procedures or specifications when necessary.
- Ensured that all products meet customer requirements prior to shipping, reinspecting all reworked products or equipment, releasing equipment upon a passing reinspection, and releasing products to shipping pending a passing reinspection.
- Provided technical assistance in the development of new products or processes.
- Supported internal audits by verifying accuracy of documents against actual conditions.
- Conducted proper inspection techniques regarding defective equipment, and provided corrective action recommendations to maintenance and other appropriate management parties.
- Prevented costly errors and customer complaints by following product specifications.
- Assisted with internal audits to identify areas for improvement, and ensure adherence to quality management systems.
- Reviewed customer complaints, conducted PowerPoint presentations to the production team, and coordinated investigations to ensure effective resolutions.
- Assisted with training employees to fulfill quality standards and expectations of management.
- Compared samples to standards and specifications by performing detailed measurements and tests.
- Conducted thorough inspections of incoming materials and finished products to ensure quality standards were met.
- Performed detailed inspections of products to ensure compliance with quality standards.
- Notified the appropriate parties of malfunctioning equipment and tools to minimize workflow disruptions.
- Entered inspection records of all quality control activities, such as tests and inspections performed, into the DCS (Data Collection System).
- Maintained accurate records of quality reports, statistical reviews, and relevant documentation.
- Created detailed shift reports summarizing quality assurance activities for upper management review.
- Investigated customer complaints related to product quality and reported findings to management.
- Evaluated grading of product quality against published specifications to maintain consistently high-quality standards.
- Monitored production processes to identify any potential quality issues.
- Worked with off-site customer teams to complete timely tests, facilitate smooth first production runs, and ensure quick releases.
- Analyzed production processes and product specifications to establish quality and reliability standards. Observed all employees entering audits into the Weight Monitor System to ensure that packaging tares are correct, and that the stated weight received by the customer is accurate.
- Completed routine inspections of components and products to fulfill quality assurance requirements, and tagged any noncompliances.
- Monitored and evaluated supplier performance to ensure compliance with quality requirements.
- Consulted with management and personnel to educate on QA standards.
- Prioritized and organized tasks when necessary to efficiently accomplish required tasks.
- Observed and recorded the entire formulation for product pickle-making procedures.
- Monitored the product for the entire process, including receiving, injection, maceration, massage, stuffing, cooking, stripping, cutting (if necessary), glazing (if necessary), packaging, dating, prepricing (if necessary), boxing and scaling on certain items.
- Performed tests on the finished product, such as the Protein Fat Free test (PFF), by grinding products and running them through the FOSS machine, which measures the content of several ingredients in a product sample, and performed a salt content test on each sample.
- Conducted routine tests on lines and equipment to comply with food safety, USDA, and HACCP regulations. During these tests, all employees on the testing lines are instructed to remain on the tasting line and isolate themselves from other lines. Equipment from the test line cannot be shared. During these tests, samples were gathered, and Listeria swabs were collected. Routine lab samples were gathered. Such as Rodac swabs and Q-swabs. New equipment tests were performed any time a food contact piece of equipment was introduced to a production line.
- Documented daily walk-throughs of all departments and noted any noncompliances, such as poor housekeeping and employees not following good manufacturing practices, such as eating candy on production lines, and wearing jewelry. These incidents must be documented with the time and name of person committing the violation.
- Ensured that paperwork in all production areas was correct, free of errors, documented in real time, and had no missing information.
- Completed detailed reports upon the discovery of foreign material, and conducted investigations to find the source and contain the contaminant. *These reports are essential in the creation of Salvage Plans to ensure that adulterated products do not reach the customer.
- Issued a tag to all products or equipment that do not meet Food Safety/Quality Assurance standards.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Human Resources Management (Communication Studies)
University of Maryland Global Campus
Hyattsville, MDSkills
- Laboratory testing
- Sampling techniques
- Restricted ingredient handling and accounting
- Statistical process control
- Sanitation procedures
- SSOP (Sanitary Standard Operating Procedure) compliance
- Product inspection: internal meat defects and unacceptable quality; external: all aspects (packaging, labeling, pre-pricing, and scaling)
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) compliance
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) compliance
- Pest control management
- Shelf life studies
- Quality control analysis
- Sensory evaluation
- Foreign material investigation
- Data entry
- Listeria swabbing
- Chemistry/PFF analysis
- Salt analysis testing
- FSQA policy/procedure proficient
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Quality Assurance Food Safety Technician
Smithfield Foods, Inc
09.2007 - Current
Some College (No Degree) - Human Resources Management (Communication Studies)
University of Maryland Global Campus