Austin L. Matthews
Appleton
Summary
Quality Assurance professional with 15+ years of experience managing and supporting FSQ systems and teams. Ability to effectively communicate and work with employees at all levels. Dedicated to developing and coaching employees in all departments through training and knowledge transfer. Strive to deliver the highest quality cheese and dairy products into the marketplace.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Quality Manager
Saputo Cheese USA
03.2020 - Current
- Continue to heavily support startup operations at a brand new 300,000+ sq. ft. conversation site in SE Wisconsin through development of FSQ programs and line startup sampling plans, incident investigation and resolution, risk mitigation planning for new line installations, and customer interactions, all while interacting with various departments including Sales, Marketing, Operations, Engineering, and Tech Services.
- Assisted and supported a facility in Reedsburg, WI through a successful one-year transformation from a Mozzarella cheesemake to a Goat cheesemake, as well as a 50,000 sq. ft. Curing Cell addition at a facility in Almena, WI, including tasks specific to risk mitigation planning prior to construction events and new equipment installations, developing new EM Programs, and planning for pathogen swabbing and product sampling during initial production runs
- Developed robust Zone 1 pathogen testing programs at three facilities
- Coach and develop the continued growth of quality and operations teams as it pertains to Food Safety and Quality at four manufacturing sites located in Wisconsin through on-site training, plant-specific troubleshooting events, and daily support
- Drive continuous improvement of Food Safety and Quality systems through adherence to strong Saputo standards, as well as compliance to regulatory, SQF, and customer requirement. while providing technical expertise where needed
- Investigate product complaints with plant management teams to determine root cause and identify/implement effective preventive actions to drive customer satisfaction
Quality Assurance Manager
BelGioioso Cheese, Inc
01.2014 - 03.2020
- Maintained good standing with all regulatory agencies, including the FDA, WDATCP, USDA and production lines falling under FSIS jurisdiction
- Successfully led and passed all SQF Level 3 facility audits with scores of 95% or higher
- Responsible for root cause analysis of all customer complaints, as well as implementation of corrective and preventive actions, directly resulting in a 10%+ reduction in complaints year-over year
- Oversaw all facility Quality Programs, in addition to the Food Safety Plan
- Responsible for the communication of all in-house microbiological and analytical testing results, while driving improvement on results that require it
- Oversaw the implementation and startup of five new production lines and four facility additions
- Responsible for training 200+ production employees on required quality and food safety topics, in addition to daily coaching on the production floor
- Provided leadership and coaching to all Lab Technicians and Quality Leaders to build positive and effective working relationships.
Quality Assurance Supervisor/Lab Supervisor
Foremost Farms USA Cooperative Inc.
04.2012 - 01.2014
- Maintained good standing with the WDATCP and USDA, including certifications for the lab and all lab technicians in accordance with the Appendix N antibiotic testing program
- Maintained the Hold & Release, Environmental Monitoring Programs and many other Quality Programs
- Assisted the Quality Manager during all third party and customer audits
- Completed sensory testing of all finished product, while driving improvements to the process
- Responsible for determining corrective actions for all out-of-spec product and environmental test results
- Carried all previous duties completed as the Lead Lab Technician.
Lead Lab Technician
Foremost Farms USA Cooperative Inc.
08.2011 - 04.2012
- Oversaw microbiological and chemical testing of in-process and finished product, as well as all plant environmental testing
- Maintained calibrations on all critical testing equipment in the laboratory and on the production floor
- Maintained inventory of all lab chemicals, reagents, agars, and spare equipment
- Provided leadership and coaching to five direct reports working in the laboratory.
Quality Assurance Supervisor
Clasen Quality Coatings
10.2009 - 08.2011
- Oversaw the Hold & Release Program, Environmental Monitoring Program, Allergen Program, Quality Training Program, Monthly Food Safety Audits, and calibrations of quality-related equipment
- Approved new suppliers and re-approved existing suppliers using the Approved Vendor Program
- Assisted R&D, Engineering, and Operations during trials, equipment and procedural changes.
- Reduced customer complaints by 50% from 2010 to 2011 through an effective CAPA program
- Instrumental in receiving the original SQF Level 3 certification and annual recertification for the facility
Quality Assurance Auditor
KRAFT – Oscar Mayer
05.2009 - 10.2009
- Verified CCPs on all running production lines with accuracy and precision
- Conducted QCMS audits to ensure the highest food safety and quality of all finished product
- Maintained the Hold and Release of all raw ingredients, rework, work-in progress, and finished product, including the final sign-off on all HACCP documents
- Sampled RTE product contact zones in accordance to the USDA Listeria monitoring program, as well as in-process and finished product samples for sensory analysis and lab testing.
Quality Assurance Supervisor
The Hain-Celestial Group
09.2007 - 05.2009
- Maintained the Hold and Release program for shipment of finished product
- Controlled receipt of incoming ingredients based on Certificate of Analysis review and visual inspection
- Conducted internal audits of all production lines with honesty and precision, including CCPs
- Maintained good standing with QAI (Organic), Orthodox Union (Kosher), and the FDA
- Assisted Corporate QA and R&D with new product formulations and plant trials.
Education
B.S - Food Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison
06.2007
Timeline
Regional Quality Manager
Saputo Cheese USA
03.2020 - Current
Quality Assurance Manager
BelGioioso Cheese, Inc
01.2014 - 03.2020
Quality Assurance Supervisor/Lab Supervisor
Foremost Farms USA Cooperative Inc.
04.2012 - 01.2014
Lead Lab Technician
Foremost Farms USA Cooperative Inc.
08.2011 - 04.2012
Quality Assurance Supervisor
Clasen Quality Coatings
10.2009 - 08.2011
Quality Assurance Auditor
KRAFT – Oscar Mayer
05.2009 - 10.2009
Quality Assurance Supervisor
The Hain-Celestial Group
09.2007 - 05.2009
B.S - Food Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison