FOOD SAFETY - QUALITY ASSURANCE TECHNICIAN 6 5 FOOD SAFETY Quality Assurance Technician For most of us when going on a trip like camping we plan ahead. We prepare for rain by brining a rain tarp or bring an extra set of blankets when we know it’s going to get cold. Quality assurance (QA) works the same way. They set standards and create plans that need to be followed if a product doesn’t meet a quality standard. For example, equipment must be properly cleaned between batches to prevent bacterial growth and allergen contamination. Though what happens if it is not cleaned properly? Not to worry because QA’s already have plan’s that state exactly what should be done in this set of circumstances. It’s because of these plans that we don’t see as many food related illnesses. These professionals have made it their job to secure food safety by developing quality/safety plans and ensure they are being followed. 1. Quality Assurance Technicians Uphold Food Safety Quality assurance technicians (QAs) ensure that the food we consume is safe and adheres to quality standards. They look to prevent mistakes or defects which could affect the integrity of food before production even begins. Quality assurance is a termused to describe the systematic effort taken to ensure that a product meets a set of standards and specifications. Mistakes are prevented in three main ways. Firstly, they work with operations, sanitation, research & development teams to determine what quality standards they want to uphold. This could include quality standards (ex. colour, weight or size) or they could be safety related (ex. how much bacteria is present in the sample or how equipment should be cleaned before or after a production run). QA’s are key members in the corporate risk management framework. Corporate risk management framework is a structure which is used to identify, analyze and respond to any risks and opportunities. The quality assurance department is responsible for identifying the safety risks inside the manufacturing plant, relaying the risks to corporate and making sure those issues are corrected. Secondly, depending on the size of a company a QA will conduct audits, a key role in verifying proper food safety practices in processing facilities. During an audit they will review paperwork, inspect buildings and look for data trends involving food safety. Examples of noncompliance include finding rusted production equipment, improper employee food handling and temporary machine fixes. Finally, they help reduce defects in products by providing advice related to regulatory compliance and quality management systems. QA professionals are knowledgeable about food safety regulations because they keep up to date with what occurs in the quality world. If the government requires production facilities. In addition to the task above here are some more examples of a QA technician’s day-to-day tasks: • Write, revise, update and maintain Quality Systems and food documentation. • Ensure that standard operating procedures match actions being performed in a plant. • Research and compose new technical documents and reports. 2. Quality Assurance Technicians are Sometimes Called Quality Control Technicians In some food processing facilities QA technicians are known quality control technicians or food safety specialist even though their duties are slightly different. Quality Assurance Technician Making sure that food safety programs are being followed Photo by jeffbergen/E+/GettyImages
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