9 replies to this topic

[Steffen Weigel]

Hi All ,

I have a short question for all of you.
I'm new in that business and i want to know what are the responseabilitys of a Quality Assurance Manager.
What are the topics of this Job.

Thanks in advance,

Steffen

[Setanta]

This is a quick question, but not really a quick answer.

It may be easier for you to say what you think the responsibilities are and we can add what additional responsibilites there are? For myself, being in a small facility, I wear many hats.

Plus, each area, raw ingredients, finished goods, food, medicine, etc, is going to have different aspects.

S

Edited by Setanta, 26 February 2013 - 05:26 PM.

[Steffen Weigel]

Okay I will try it so ,
I work also in a small company who handles food.
We are no producer we just do warehousing with three temperature areas (frozen, chill, dry).
I take the job over as Quality Assurance Manager but I'm not sure where my job starts and where it ends??
I would say the responsibilities of a QA Manager are:
-To improve the QA/QC program
-To handle audits
-To ask for shelf extension
-Working on destroy damage products
- doing the hygiene checks around the warehouse (restrooms, verifying measurement devices)
- working in hygiene classes for employees
- working to keep the Food Defense Plan updated
- working on new SOP's
- tracking files from every employee

So that's a small part of my responsibilities right now.
What are you think about this ?
what else are my responsibilities ?
I need every help what I can become !

Thank you in advance ,

Steffen

[Jophi]

Hi

I assume the primary responsibility of a QA Manager is ensure Safety of Food ( Food Safety) his/her factory handles.
Other responsibilities shall vary site to site and product to product

Jophi

[Charles.C]

Okay I will try it so ,
I work also in a small company who handles food.
We are no producer we just do warehousing with three temperature areas (frozen, chill, dry).
I take the job over as Quality Assurance Manager but I'm not sure where my job starts and where it ends??
I would say the responsibilities of a QA Manager are:
-To improve the QA/QC program
-To handle audits
-To ask for shelf extension
-Working on destroy damage products
- doing the hygiene checks around the warehouse (restrooms, verifying measurement devices)
- working in hygiene classes for employees
- working to keep the Food Defense Plan updated
- working on new SOP's
- tracking files from every employee

So that's a small part of my responsibilities right now.
What are you think about this ?
what else are my responsibilities ?
I need every help what I can become !

Thank you in advance ,

Steffen

Dear Steffen Weigel,

i believe the word "Quality" should be in there somewhere.

Responsibility for Quality (Defects) is the Production Manager's typical definition of the QA Mngr's function. Together with un-necessary evil or slightly more politely, fallguy.

My first answer to yr OP would be that you should (at least) be involved / aware of any activity related to product "Quality", or maintenance thereof. Unfortunately Quality is a word which has an ambiguous and wide scope. Other responsibilities may also come your way depending on yr original job description (if any). Are you seeking to reduce or increase yr theoretical list ?

Rgds / Charles.C

[Steffen Weigel]

Hi Charles,

How do you defined the Job Quality Manager ?
Maybe i forget in my list some responsibilities, when yes i will add them to it.

And good to know also is what Americans understand about the word MANAGER.
My boss (American) told me last time that i not be a Manager at this moment.
I run the whole QA program so i don't understand what else he want.

Thanks,

Steffen

[Charles.C]

Hi Charles,

How do you defined the Job Quality Manager ?

Thanks,

Steffen

Dear Steffen,

IMEX it can depend on your location.

For example, AFAIK, in UK it typically implies both Quality Control and Production responsibilities. And sometimes a bit of Engineering.

Some other countries (from memory) use for Quality only, or (many) don't use it at all.
Germany i have no idea, sorry.

I run the whole QA program so i don't understand what else he want

It means he likes to have no competition.

Rgds / Charles.C

[Marshenko]

Here's my job description:

Purpose

The primary function of this position is to ensure the company has the highest product quality and food safety systems by developing policies and implementing systems that will not disrupt business practices or compromise customer trust.

Position reports to:

Owner

Roles/Responsibility

- Develop microbiological standards for customer requests.

- Perform shelf life studies for customer and regulatory requirements

- Develops weekly, monthly and yearly reports for trend analysis to ensure facilities stay within safe operating parameters

- Responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance, and changes of the company HACCP program and the company SQF System

- Responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance and changes of company QC program.

- Responsible for the development and implementation of company SOPs, SSOPs, GMPs and Food Security programs.

- Responsible for the training of all employees in the food safety, GMP, security, and allergen systems that are in place.

- Responsible for putting product on hold, and rejecting product at receiving that doesn’t meet company standards.

- Responsible for leading crisis management team and spearheading any recall initiatives

- Responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of all 3^rd party audit material as well as direct results of those audits.

- Coordinates all activities between quality, production and maintenance during audits

- Perform sanitation and quality audits of all facilities daily on walk through.

- Responsible for all resolution to customer complaints, the trending of complaints and leads the investigations into the source of the complaints.

- Develops product specifications for raw materials.

- Hires, trains, mentors, empowers and develops QC team members

- To serve as the scientific and regulatory expert for the company.

- To serve as the chief liaison for the company to the USDA when issues arise

- To stay current on all regulatory issues and communicate those issues and their impact on the business

- To investigate and develop alternative methods for producing product to make production more efficient, to circumvent constricting regulations, and to make the product safer.

- To provide scientific documentation per customer request.


- Provide technical assistance to production, purchasing, and sales.

- Responsible for the final proofing of all labels, their submission to Washington, and their compliance to the regulations.

- Provides backup for the Deputy SQF Practitioner in his/her absence.

[Chin Poh Ming]

I guess there is no one size fit all JD.  All hiring roles, regardless of quality or other functions, is to help the company to resolve problems/ issues

For QA, primary is to ensure safe food via Quality Systems.

QC, should be ensure compliance and control. 

[Brothbro]

Very difficult question to answer! I think you'll find a lot of QA Managers have their responsibilities bleed into realms outside the traditional role. This makes it hard to get a consistent answer out of anyone, myself included.  Like others have mentioned, it's a difficult job because you're usually the one who has to give bad news, or make decisions which put product quality/safety over company profit or productivity. Fundamentally, I'd boil it down to this:

 

- Ensure compliance with local and federal regulations (FDA, USDA, etc.)

- Ensure compliance and maintain certification with 3rd party safety/quality organizations (SQF, GMP Certs, ISO, etc.)

- Manage customer complaint program

- Manage resolution of production deviations/rejected material

- Develop and maintain Quality Management System, including HACCP and Food Safety Plan

- Active member of product release system (Typically review records and sign off)

- Communicate food safety and quality issues to management team

- Maintain SOPs/Forms/Methods related to quality

- Manage the training of QA department

- Maintain the QA Laboratory (preventive maintenance, calibration, proficiency testing)

- Point person for facility audits

- Provide input to Engineering/R&D departments related to quality, for instance whether new equipment or processes are appropriate for the plant.

 

As I write this I find the list goes on and on...As a QA manager you'll find just about everything that happens can become "your problem"