Mars North America

Quality Assurance Technician

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Company: Mars North America Visit Website/Apply Online (Click Here) Use one of the above methods to apply for this job.

• Job ID:ELI00119
• Date:11/19/2008
• Location:Harrisburg, US-PA
• State:Pennsylvania
• Degree:Not Specified
• Major:null

Salary/Compensation:

0-0

Job Types:

Statistician - QA

Quality. Responsibility. Mutuality. Efficiency. Freedom. Unusual values for a $5 billion company? Not at Mars North America! The Five Principles of Mars have inspired us for over 90 years. More than a statement of values, they are the explanation for our success and the formula for our future.

Mars North America creates the foods you love, like M&M's®, SNICKERS®, DOVE® and UNCLE BEN'S® . . . and the foods your pets love, too, like PEDIGREE®, CESAR®, WHISKAS® and SHEBA®.

We stand apart because we are a global leader in the food, snack and petcare industries and one of the most successful family-owned businesses in the world. Currently, we are looking for qualified, diverse individuals to apply for the following position:

Quality Assurance position provides leadership to develop, implement, maintain and proactively improve quality management programs, methods and systems to assure product, processes, and environments conform to the established Mars quality standards. The Quality Assurance Technician proactively identifies changes to quality systems to minimize quality and/or food safety risks to the business and maintains strong preventative programs. The position acts as a technical resource for interpretation and ongoing application of quality standards. The position provides an ongoing organizational resource to audit and report all quality information and measurement data, especially input from customers and consumers.  The job involves training, auditing, problem-solving and assuring corrective actions are properly implemented.  The position promotes product safety and general product quality awareness acting as a liaison between manufacturing site and National Office R&D.
 
Ensure product conformance
Generate and implement acceptance and control sampling plans
Maintain SPC (statically process control) data collection plans for attributes, process variables and food safety checks for current and new products
Daily Management of process control (WinSPC ) - troubleshoot issues, maintain/support workstations, and train users
Perform Statistical Process Control training
Daily review of data in the system for end of shift release
Implement and maintain Quality systems to drive continuous improvements (i.e., Quality Plans, KAPPA, Kosher, quality related training material, metal detection and critical control point (CCP) work instructions, Mars requirements, etc.)
Calibrate quality control associates on-line to perform attribute checks via KAPPA program
Routinely validate calibration of each quality control associate and conduct training as needed
Design and execute statistically valid sampling plan to evaluate finished goods for quality disposition
Assist in the development and delivery of Technical Training programs and Best Practices
 
Quality Assurance
Implement and maintain programs to trend, report, and address consumer and customer feedback information
Develop and implement work instructions and testing procedures for quality assurance and compliance to Mars Global Standards
Monitor Good Manufacturing Practices and promote compliance to federal, state, and local food laws
Set up, conduct and report on product quality in field as well as compare with other brands
Evaluate effectiveness and compliance to quality system via audits and data review
Manage product library and metal detector standards
Basic understanding of hold management process
Manage concessions and waiver to specifications
 
Manage corrective action system
Drive improvement to Corrective Action Request system (CAR)
Assign and conduct follow up audits to ensure completion of corrective actions
 
Key Knowledge
Strong statistical, analytical and troubleshooting skills.
Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills. Strong questioning and probing skills to discover issues and to verify the accuracy of information, results, and data.
General knowledge of ISO, Quality Management Systems, Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Systems (HACCP), Regulatory Guidelines, Sensory, and/or Microbiology.
Proven application of hold management and/or quality tools.
Working knowledge of computer software including: word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, macros, etc.
 
Key Skills
Awareness of quality systems and food safety systems (e.g., ISO9001, HACCP and GMP's)
Working knowledge of computer software including: word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, macros, etc.
Ability to work in an R&D, Manufacturing, and/or Distribution environment
Ability to work with others in R&D, Manufacturing and/or Distribution to improve product, processes and systems.

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate, influence, negotiate, motivate and lead a team
Ability to work independently as well as within a team
Strong project management skills and ability to prioritize own workload
Ability to effectively negotiate and persuade with all levels of the organization
Ability to make timely, consistent and well balanced decisions
Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills
Presentation skills for delivering training programs to a wide variety of audiences
Self-discipline with initiative to carry out improvements of job related responsibilities
Flexibility to adapt to regularly changing priorities and quality issues
Ability to handle sensitive information
Ability to make timely, consistent and well balanced decisions

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED

2 to 3 years experience in Quality, Food Science, Laboratory Services, or Engineering area

Strong technical writing and editing skills

Able to travel up to 10%

Ability to lift 55 lbs

Ability to work in an R&D, Manufacturing, and/or Distribution environment

Proven application of food science, statistics and/or quality tools

Successful completion of a drug and background screen

Successful completion of a quality assurance case study and presentation of results

  

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor degree in a Technical discipline (Engineering, Food Science, etc.) 

Strong interpersonal communication and leadership skills, and the ability to effectively negotiate, influence, persuade, and analyze problems with all levels of the organization

Strong understanding of ISO Quality Systems, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP's), Quality Assurance tools, Statistics and Statistical Process Control (SPC), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Systems (HACCP), Regulatory Guidelines, Food Safety and/or Sensory

Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills
Internal ISO auditor 
Willing to work weekends
 
Company-paid relocation is not available for this position. 
 
As a privately-held, family-owned company, Mars North America offers benefits which reflect our commitment to attracting and retaining great people. This includes excellent pay, competitive health and dental care coverage, a retirement plan, a very competitive vacation plan and unrivalled career advancement opportunities, to name just a few of our unique and generous benefits.
 
If you're looking for a place where you can take ownership for your work, where the pace is fast, the environment is built around the importance of open communication, and where employees are called "associates" and treated as such, then we want to hear from you.
 
We value a diverse work environment and encourage qualified individuals to apply, regardless of race, religion, disability, national origin, veteran status, gender and age. Mars North America is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.
 
Visit www.mars.com to learn more about our company and for information about all of our current openings. Please, no agencies.

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