Job Description

Job Title: Quality Process Engineer

Classification: Exempt – Full Time 

Report to: VP of QA and Continuous Improvement

Position Backup: VP of QA and Continuous Improvement

A.       PURPOSE 

The Quality Process Engineer will be responsible for ensuring that operational processes are stable and capable of the consistent delivery of quality food products produced at DRF facilities. The quality process engineer is responsible and accountable for day-to-day tasks include developing and implementing standard work across facilities, developing and implementing best practices, conducting continuous improvement projects, implementing lean manufacturing techniques, ensuring processes follow food safe practices. This person should have a keen eye for detail and the ability to interface across disciplines and at all levels.

B.       General Overall Duties (1-17 listed below)

Some of the duties of this position are those described below.  This job description does not state or imply that the duties listed are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position.  Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management

1. Ensures that all operational processes are fully documented via SOP / SW (standard work).
2. Develop best practices, routines and innovative solutions to improve production rates and quality of output
3. Quality engineering support for project-related activities including line extensions, SKU development, process improvements, capital projects etc.
4. Conducts continuous improvement projects to ensure equipment is running optimally and within the manufacturer’s specifications
5. Puts into practice Lean tools promoted by the company
6. Develop, configure and optimize industrial processes from inception through to start up and certification
7. Assess processes, take measurements and interpret data
8. Design, run, test, perform process simulations, and upgrade systems and processes
9. Manage cost and time constraints
10. Act as in internal consultant to various departments and teams for current interpretation of GMP/SQF/QMS.
11. Review and approve documents under Change Control ensuring compliance with GMP and regulatory standards.
12. Support the Risk Management process throughout all quality system elements such as Design Control, Product Surveillance, Field Action, etc. Update risk management file documents as needed.
13. Provide Quality support for product quality manufacturing issues ensuring compliance with applicable regulations/standards as well as providing sound technical guidance.
14. Provide guidance and direction on Client and CAPA investigations. Complete NCRs, and CAPAs as required including risk assessments.
15. Provides technical support and training for affected personnel.
16. Maintains safe and healthy work environment by ensuring that policies and safety procedures are followed.
17. Support the technical needs of the company by understanding customer requirements, market demands, and competitors’ capabilities and products, identifying and analyzing trends in technology, understanding and quantifying company strengths and shortcomings and conferring and collaboration with other members of management.

Skills/Work Experience

The required competencies to perform this job at an acceptable or above level of performance are as follows:

• Process Thinking: Ability to observe and understand how equipment and processes work together to create an output
• Critical Thinking: Able to assess data inputs and determine factual information. Able to ask probing questions to understand an issue or problem.
• Communication: Able to clearly express (verbally and written) thoughts and processes in understandable language. In Del Real’s case both in English and Spanish.
• Collaboration: Able to work with groups and realize shared outcomes
• Problem Solving: Able to define problems, drive to root cause and collaboratively implement sustainable solutions

Qualifications:

1. Mechanically inclined with problem solving aptitude
2. Knowledge of manufacturing methods, process & quality standards
3. Knowledge of process related standards (USDA and FDA Regulations)
4. Knowledge of general safety and hygiene practices.
5. Solid computer skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite Products
6. Experience in process simulations 
7. CAD or Auto-Cad skills preferred

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

1. Bachelor’s degree in Industrial or Mechanical Engineering with a minimum of 2 - years of experience in a food processing environment. 

1. Flexible to work weekends, holidays and nights depending on projects
2. Bilingual Spanish & English preferred 
3. Food or Beverage industry experience is preferred

D. Physical Requirements (All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.)

              1.            Physical activities of this position.  

ý Climbing:  Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.  Body agility is emphasized.  This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.

ý Balancing:  Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.  This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

ý Stooping:  Bending body downward and forward bending spine at the waist.  This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

ý Kneeling:  Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

ý Crouching:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

ý Crawling:  Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

ý Reaching:  Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

ý Standing:  Particularly for sustained periods of time.

ý Walking:  Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances.

ý Pushing:  Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

ý Pulling:  Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

ý Lifting:  Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.  This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.

ý Grasping:  Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

ý Feeling:  Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

ý Talking:  Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly or quickly.

ý Hearing:  Noisy environment.

ý Vision:  Close work.

ý Repetitive motions:  Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

2.            Degree of physical exertion required for the position. 

ý Medium Work:  Exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 20 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force constantly to move objects

•         Environmental conditions the employee will be subject to in this position.  (Check ALL that apply.)

¨ Outside environmental conditions:  No effective protection from weather.

ý Both environmental conditions:  Activities occur inside and outside.

ý Extreme cold:  Temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.

ý Extreme heat:  Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.

ý Noise:  There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.

ý Vibration:  Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or the whole body.

ý Hazard:  Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.

ý Atmospheric conditions:  One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system or the skin:  Fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases or poor ventilation.

ý Oils:  There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.

ý Humidity:  Exposure to humid conditions ranging from 70 to 92 percent.

¨ None: No substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).  

3. PRIMARY CONTACTS

A. CONTACTS

1. Inside the Company:
   1. Company Employees
   2. Administration 
   3. Company Supervisors & Managers

1. Out of the Company:
   1. None

B. SUPERVISION

1. Directly Supervises: None
2. Indirectly Supervises: All processing areas