About the position
A well-established milling operation in the Western Cape is seeking a detail-oriented Quality Controller to join their Quality Assurance team. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on quality professional to play a key role in maintaining standards across raw materials, production processes, and finished goods, while contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.
The position is based in the Western Cape, offering a structured and supportive working environment. You will join a team that is committed to maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and operational excellence, while actively living out the company's core values of Customer Focus, Excellence, Honesty, Ownership, Respect, and Adaptability in all aspects of daily work.
Responsibilities:
Reporting:
- Complete daily reports and shift handovers accurately, ensuring quality, completeness, and timeliness.
- Report all non-conformances and discrepancies to the Assistant Quality Manager on a daily basis.
Quality Assurance of Raw Material:
- Ensure incoming raw materials are tested and verified in line with company standards and procedures.
- Perform regular quality checks on raw and packaging materials and accurately capture all related data.
- Identify, report, and follow up on deviations, ensuring corrective actions are implemented.
- Conduct daily physical stock counts of wheat in silos and conditioning bins, as well as month-end stock takes.
Quality Assurance of Products:
- Conduct hourly flour testing and sampling, ensuring accurate recording and reporting of results across all shifts and mills.
- Prepare composite samples and maintain complete, accurate product testing records.
- Interpret test results, identify deviations from specifications, and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders.
- Verify product compliance for Certificates of Analysis (COAs), generate and distribute COAs, and resolve related queries.
- Operate and perform testing using the Alveograph, interpreting results and escalating any abnormalities or deviations.
- Ensure all finished products meet company and customer specifications before release, with complete supporting documentation and approvals.
- Collaborate with the quality team to drive process improvements and report any deviations or improvement opportunities.
Quality Assurance of Operations:
- Assist with pre-production checks to ensure readiness and compliance.
- Conduct regular quality inspections across milling, packing, mixing, and dispatch areas.
- Perform post-maintenance quality checks in production areas.
- Ensure all inspections are carried out in accordance with the Food Safety Management System.
Laboratory Management:
- Perform scheduled verification and calibration of laboratory equipment.
- Maintain a clean, organised, and fully functional laboratory in line with GLP and food safety standards.
- Manage and retain high-quality samples for use in product testing and visual comparison.
General:
- Provide shift coverage for other quality personnel when required to ensure operational continuity.
- Perform additional tasks as requested by management when necessary.
Requirements:
- Qualification in Quality, Food Safety, or a related field would be advantageous.
- Preferably 1-3 years experience in the food industry, with exposure to quality control or quality assurance environments.
- The standard working hours are from 06:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday. However, one of the ad hoc duties for this position is to cover for QA shifts when they are on leave. These shifts are 12 hours long and may occur any day of the week, including nights. This means that flexibility in working hours is required when needed.
Desired Skills:
- Quality Controller
- Food Safety
- Quality Assurance
- GLP
- Milling
