Technician QA - Days 2-2-3 Schedule

About the Company

We are a leading manufacturer of premium, ready-to-eat link sausages and hot dogs. Founded in 2004 by four brothers—Chris, Joe, Mark, and Pete Salm—we built our organization on the "partnership" concept as the cornerstone of our success. Since then, we have expanded to two production plants with over 1,000 partners in Denmark, WI. In 2023, Johnsonville purchased Salm Partners to grow both its ready-to-eat sausage business and the category as a whole. The combination of Johnsonville, the country’s most trusted retail sausage brand, with Salm Partners, the industry-leading manufacturer, has created a world-class organization. We are committed to growth as a company and to our partners.

About the Role

Performs inspections and testing activities and maintains records related to the quality control of all product manufactured within the facility. Completes sanitation activities for the production areas as needed, in compliance with all safety, food safety, SQF, GMP, and USDA-FSIS requirements. Acts as Food Safety Representative.

Responsibilities

• Comply with all SQF and USDA regulatory issues and food safety requirements; act as Food Safety Representative.
• Complete a facility-wide pre-op visual inspection to confirm sanitation status of production areas prior to beginning daily production; write up Corrective Actions as needed and address/resolve issues prior to start-up.
• Conduct Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP) inspections twice per shift while the plant is in production; complete inspection form and file.
• Communicate daily with the USDA representative, addressing all issues in a timely manner.
• Review Certificates of Analysis for all received raw goods.
• Assist Stuffing Room Operators with brine set-up; take water samples and maintain hourly salt/brine log tracking to specification.
• Ensure compliance with the HACCP Plan by completing periodic net weight checks, color readings, Perfect Package checks, hourly temperature checks, hourly metal detector checks, drive unit/water temperature checks, salt pH/temperature checks, and assisting with smoke tests as needed.
• Collect product samples during the production run; conduct length/weight analyses, periodic sensory evaluations, and complete appropriate forms.
• Collect and package product samples for testing by Food Safety Net Service (FSNS) daily; complete Sample Submission forms.
• Check Metal Detector Rejections and Leaker logs for completeness and maintain files.
• Calibrate test equipment (pH meter, colorimeter, thermometers, etc.) and verify scales for accuracy throughout the facility.
• Monitor cooler temperatures daily.
• Complete pathogen swabs and water sample checks periodically.
• Collect in-process cook/chill data using a Data Logger probe weekly; download data from the probe to a spreadsheet for review and analysis.
• Maintain Reprocessed Product Logs, entering process/reprocess date and new code date into the system, and maintaining files.
• Collect information and documentation related to foreign material incidents.
• Assist with the decision to place product on QA Hold or remove from Hold as necessary; send Hold notifications, complete appropriate forms, and update the Hold Log.
• Participate in organoleptics to evaluate product for extended shelf life, formulation changes, etc.
• Ensure partner compliance with all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as required.
• Follow all lockout/tag-out procedures without fail.
• Follow all safety rules and regulations per established company policies.
• Support the Lean Manufacturing initiatives of the company.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED equivalency is required; an Associate's degree in Quality or a related field is preferred.
• Previous Quality experience in a USDA-FSIS regulated food manufacturing environment is preferred.
• If non-degreed, must have a minimum of 6 months of experience as a production Line Worker with Backup QA experience.

Skills

• Strong attention to detail and ability to work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing conditions, including heat, cold, and wet environments.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills; ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating/maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Basic computer proficiency in a Windows environment, preferably with Word, Excel, and Outlook; previous experience with Internet and MAS 500 or related integrated manufacturing software is strongly preferred.
• Basic, accurate math skills.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, verbal, or diagram form; strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Physical Demands

• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk, or hear.
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• Must occasionally lift boxes of product weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include depth perception, close vision, and color vision.
• Must have a sense of taste and smell to complete sensory evaluations of product.

Work Environment

• Wide variation of temperatures, ranging from 35°F to 100°F in various production work areas.
• Work environment is wet and slippery most of the time.
• Noise level in the production work environment is usually loud.
• Required to wear slip-resistant footwear, frocks, hairnets, and hearing protection at all times on the production floor.
• Gloves, goggles, face shields, rain suits, and rubber boots may be required at different times.

Benefits

• 401(k) with company match.
• Health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Optional Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance policies.
• Paid time off (PTO).