Quality Assurance Technician - Ames, IA

Overview

At Barilla, we believe that every great journey begins with passion and a bold vision. From our humble beginnings in 1877 in a small shop in Parma, Italy, we’ve blossomed into a global leader in the food industry, guided by our commitment to progress and excellence. Today, Barilla is an international group present in more than 100 countries and we are proud to be recognized as the world’s top food company by reputation.

With 20 beloved brands in our portfolio, we are world leader for pasta, the number one choice for ready-made sauces in Europe, leader for bakery products in Italy, and for crispbread across Scandinavia with Wasa. Our success story is written by a passionate team of 9,000 dedicated employees across 30 plants and offices worldwide, all united by a shared mission to nourish the future with purpose and passion.

Do you have a love for pasta and a knack for attention to detail? We are looking for dedicated individuals to join our pasta packaging team. If you re ready to roll up your sleeves and contribute to the creation of top-quality pasta products, we want you!

The Quality Assurance Technician is responsible for testing and logging data for raw materials, package materials, and finished product. Must control all material that does not meet quality or food safety specifications. Responsible for communicating effectively within the QA lab, within the plant, and also externally. The Quality Assurance Technician will provide support to ensure problem solving (root cause analysis) is carried out when non-conformities are identified.

Starting rate: $23.91 per hour

• Work safely by following proper methods.
• Complete Safety Observations timely.
• Facilitate communication between QA staff and others in the plant.
• Verify and document the calibration of lab testing equipment.
• Check codes on boxes, cases, and pallets to ensure correct coding of finished product.
• Perform finished product testing as specified per the testing control plan.
• Perform raw material testing as specified per the testing control plan.
• Perform package material testing as specified per the testing control plan.
• Perform established lab tests consistent with the company’s Quality Assurance procedures/methods for pasta.
• Perform cooking evaluations on production samples.
• Perform dimension testing on finished product samples using micrometers and calipers.
• Document and summarize experimental data for analysis and interpretation.
• Communicate results and observations to Barilla personnel as needed.
• Serve as the contact person for production and keep supervisors informed of changes and issues that may arise.
• Add all data to SAP data collection system and track in Excel as needed.
• Collaborate with manufacturing operators to prevent defects and, when defects are found, seek out and remove causes.
• Perform routine maintenance on lab equipment.
• Properly manage all Quality holds to ensure isolation and prevent accidental shipment.
• Compile end-of-the-month reports as required.
• Work and communicate well with others, and effectively builds and maintains good working relationships within Barilla America.
• Work in conjunction with the corporate office to facilitate product release in the absence of the Quality Professional
• Assist other Quality Assurance Technicians as needed.
• Comply with the environmental policies and procesdures at Barilla Ames facility including energy efficiency, reduce – re-use – recycle goals, reporting requirements and sustainable initiatives. Complete any environmental tasks as assigned and report environmental concerns immediately.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Follows ISO
  22000 policies and procedures, address / communicate quality and food safety issues as they occur.
• Required to be a FSMA qualified individual, following all requirements from FSMA regulations
• Ensure compliance and understanding for quality procedures that directly tie to food safety—PRPs, OPRPs, CCPs and FSMA requirements

• Bachelors degree in food science, biology, microbiology, food technology, or related field is preferred.
• High School degree is required.
• One year of previous lab experience is required.
• Three…