FSQA Technician - 2nd Shift at Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. – Carthage, Missouri

FSQA Technician - 2nd Shift

US-MO-Carthage

Job ID: 2026-9038
Type: Regular Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Quality Assurance
Carthage Plant

Overview

Position will be responsible for ensuring plant sanitary conditions, that raw and in-process materials and finished products meet established food safety and quality standards. Responsible for HACCP verification activities. Responsibilities will include making decisions to accept or reject area, equipment, products or materials when deemed insanitary, possibly contaminated, or if the product is determined to be out of Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. (AFNA) specifications. When any deficiency in requirements occurs, it is the responsibility of the Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Technician to take appropriate action and inform the appropriate personnel.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

· Verifies conformance to FSQA and Safe Quality Foods (SQF) requirements in daily production operations.

· Checks, inspects and investigates to ensure that GMPs are followed, that sanitary conditions prevail, that raw and in-process materials and finished products meet company and/or government standards as required.

· Verifies that the HACCP plan is being followed. Verifies CCPs and CPs through records review or direct observation of production employees that are monitoring and documenting CCPs and CPs.

· Takes control action (i.e. Hold) when ingredients, product or the manufacturing environment are not within expected specification or standards.

· Keeps accurate and complete records.

· Conducts plant testing as required. This may include testing machinery and equipment, temperature and process controls, new products, new raw materials, assisting in new product development, conducting supply and ingredient studies, etc.

· Audit facility product weight control program as required.

· Assists in root cause analysis of problems. Recommend solutions and preventive measures in areas involving product quality, raw materials, and sanitation controls.

· Checks operating procedures and institutes changes coming from new product requirements, equipment changes, line speed requirements, raw material variations, etc.

· Assists in developing and applying quality controls and related procedures in plant operations.

· Provides advice regarding safety, sanitation, processing, filling and packaging techniques.

· Perform all other work as assigned.

Financial Responsibility

· Indirect responsibility for quality and food safety costs and financial benefits to AFNA through compliance to specifications.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

· A High School Diploma or its equivalent is desirable. Meaningful education and experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.

· Sufficiently broad experience in food manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Assurance and/or food plant production operations, processes, and policies to permit execution of assigned duties is strongly desired. Limited food manufacturing experience combined with an appropriate college degree may be considered.

· Certifications such as HACCP, PCQI, SQF, or through ASQ and other professional quality associates are helpful.

General Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

· Must have keen ability to analyze problems encountered and to make reasonable decisions based on facts/data, procedures specifications and experience.

· Fluency in English (reading, writing, and verbal) is required.

· Good organizational, mathematical, and recordkeeping skills

· Ability to conscientiously monitor aspects of incoming materials, product production, storage and distribution operations, and ensure that established material specifications, product production, product quality controls and sanitary standards are met.

· Computer literacy, word processing, and data entry skills are desired.

· Must be able, both mentally and physically, to do the analytical test. Requires good eye/hand coordination.

· Must be willing to work together as part of a team; also, must be self-motivated and able to work with little or no supervision.

· Valid Driver’s license, clean driving record

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essentials functions.

While performing the duties of this position the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud in the production area. Employee must be capable of 24-hour, 7-day a week, emergency work assignments.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance in a manufacturing facility; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

AAP/EEO STATEMENT

Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. (AFNA) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. AFNA does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.