Sr FSQA Manager at Nestle (Gerber) (2024-10 – Present)
- Lead external manufacturing qualification process by conducting food safety and quality risk assessments during new external manufacturer scoping process.
- Provide regular communication to the Director of External Manufacturing regarding the status of the co-man qualification process in a timely manner, outlining recommendations for a potential new co-man's competencies to provide safe, high-quality products.
- Ensure timely implementation of preventive controls and other SOPs for all risks identified during the scoping process. Participate in on-site production trials and other on-boarding activities for newly qualified external partners.
- Lead on-going monitoring activities of external partner's performance, including tracking FSQA KPIs such as consumer complaints, product quality scores, FSQA deviations and other food safety incidents. Conduct regular audits and on-site visits, as well as participate in regular business reviews.
- Lead the corrective action process (CAPA) for all FSQA nonconformances with the external manufacturers to ensure proper and timely resolution of issues.
- Lead the implementation of new or evolving FSQA standards, policies and regulations related to Nestle/Gerber products with external partners.
- Drive continuous improvement projects related to quality and food safety with external partners. Collaborate with the Director of External Manufacturing to optimize production processes, improve efficiency, and minimize waste while maintaining compliance with food safety and quality standards or regulations.
- Collaborate with FSQA and Regulatory team members to ensure timely task completion related to product launches and other projects impacting the scope of work for all external partners.
Co-Manufacturing Quality Assurance Manager at Kodiak Cakes (2023-07 – 2024-10)
- Leading the oversight and maintenance of quality documentation utilizing various QMS platforms such as Tracegains & Specright.
- Facilitating routine meetings with various cross-functional departments such as Procurement, QA and Product Development to analyze trends in non-conformances of raw material and finished goods
- Conducting audits focused on supplier quality and food safety, while also completing annual assessments of supplier risk while also evaluating & authorizing ingredient specifications
- Overseeing the Food Safety and Quality duties of the onboarding procedure for raw materials, packaging materials, and their respective suppliers across the US, Mexico, & Canada.
- Managing the dissemination of raw materials and packaging materials, executing risk assessments as required, and ensuring the comprehensive creation, dissemination, upkeep, and secure storage of all pertinent supplier quality documentation for all associated supplier approval processes.
Quality Assurance Manager at OnUs, LLC. (2020-09 – 2023-07)
- Developed, implemented, and maintained a quality control program for all aspects of the beverage production process, including raw materials, production, and finished products.
- Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations while implementing corrective actions as needed, and make recommendations for process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs
- Collaborate with cross functional teams, including production and maintenance, to identify and address quality issues which reduced the number of non-conforming products by 30% from 2021-2022
- Manage a team of quality control technicians, production operators, and sanitation personnel by providing training and coaching to ensure adherence to established quality control procedures while maintaining the master sanitation schedule
- Participate in new product development and launch, ensuring that the quality standards are met, and processes are in place to maintain quality throughout the production process
- Maintains consistent presence in production areas to ensure compliance of quality documentation, operator testing and safety, and good housekeeping practice
- Tracked, analyzed, and lead root cause analysis for all quality and customer complaint issues
- Performed internal audits to ensure compliance with dedicated policies, practices, and procedures
- Established and implemented the training needs of the organization's personnel to ensure they had the required competencies to safely carry out quality related functions
- Coordinate sanitation activities with production startups, shutdowns, preventive maintenance, unscheduled maintenance, and changeovers
- Maintained all quality related records including Master Sanitation Schedule and Quality SOP Manual
Quality Control Supervisor at Borden Dairy Company (2016-09 – 2020-09)
- Managed the day-to-day Quality Assurance functions for the processing plant including quality analytical control, process control, raw material and finished goods quality control, microbiology, and sanitation programs
- Maintained records of product processing including storage temperatures, tracking/lot codes, weights, and volumes, etc. in compliance with food safety regulations
- Performed pre-operational testing as well as trained production personnel to independently perform operator specific checks prior to releasing the line for production
- Conducted environmental monitoring while also assisting in cleaning and sanitation, inventory maintenance, and serving as a key member of the food safety team
- Performed microbiological, chemical, physical, and sensory analysis of finished products and raw materials
- Verified compliance of in line processes and alerted management of any deviations from specifications
- Performed calibrations and scheduled preventative maintenance of lab equipment
QC Chemist / Microbiologist at Symrise, INC. (2016-09 – 2017-03)
- Performed qualitative (analytical, sensory, and microbiological) and quantitative testing of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products by utilizing AOAC wet chemical and instrumental testing methods while recording results into SAP
- Calibrated instruments daily and validated test instruments and methods as required
- Performed equipment and tool inspection to ensure food safety though HACCP, allergen risk management, and prevention of contamination
Quality Control Technician at Pepsico, INC. (2013-05 – 2016-09)
- Operated equipment and software that blends raw materials (syrup) to create a beverage product that conforms to a given set of specifications
- Constantly handled routine tests to ensure consistency of quality including taste, fill levels, absence of allergens, labelling compliance, freshness dating, and primary packaging integrity
- Assisted with plant safety and sanitation duties as well as periodic inventory counts
- Operated proportioning equipment and monitored production lines to ensure product quality and production efficiency
- Maintained clean and organized work environment
- Frequently performed laboratory tests to determine analytical and physical characteristics or composition of finished product meeting the necessary quality standards/specifications including but not limited to: Titration, Refractometry (Brix), CarboQC or Zahm & Nagel (CO2), Torque, SST, pH, Alkalinity, and Conductivity
- Calculated final additions of raw materials to balance syrup to appropriate specifications prior to bottling
