Quality Lab Technician - 3rd Shift

Since 1968, our production facility in Minster, Ohio, has proudly manufactured fresh yogurt. Our mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. Please apply if you are interested in a progressive career in a manufacturing environment producing the products you and your family have grown to love, including Dannon Fruit on the Bottom, Activia, Oikos, Triple Zero and Danimals.

Danone North America is looking for a Quality Lab Technician in Minster, Ohio.

The purpose of the Quality Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech) is to carry out microbiological analysis on finished product samples as well as in process samples. The Lab Tech will gather samples from production and perform analytical tests on product and ingredients as well as help Quality Engineers to disposition product for our production teams. The Lab Tech will help to trouble shoot issues with viscosity, taste, pH, color, and will help to determine sanitation issues at the filling line.

Specific Job Duties and Tasks:

Perform analysis according to plan of control and record information to assure that finished goods and in-process samples are in compliance to all specifications.
• Place finished product on "HOLD" status when results fall outside of acceptable range, investigate potential causes, and propose solutions.
• Assist in disposition of hold products through retest or providing sorting instructions to production.
• Perform bench-work analysis according to Standard Operating Procedures and standard methods.
• Enter analysis results into database and analyze recorded information to determine any trends.
• Perform required environmental tests of Primary & Secondary Fluids as well as Air Quality.
• Perform audits on equipment, materials, products and procedures to assure that the lab is in compliance based on CQA (Corporate Quality Assurance) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) procedures.
• Maintain the laboratory in a clean, safe and orderly manner on a daily basis.
• Constantly look for ways to continuously improve lab methods for both speed and effectiveness and eliminate waste while improving product quality.
• Conduct daily line tours and filler line audits to ensure machine compliance with site quality standards. Audits should encompass various areas including startup, changeover, tank change, intervention and normal production where technician will evaluate potential risks to product quality and support resolution of problems.
• Provide constant and consistent quality leadership to production operators, looking for ways to improve product quality and increase technician understanding of key quality criteria and their impact on it.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives in all areas of the plant.
• Train others in Quality related practices and any other duties assigned by Supervisor
• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications:
Associates Degree in Science or course work in microbiology or equivalent work

Essential Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to work 10hr shift on 3rd shift schedule to support a 24/7 operation.

• Work in a Team Oriented environment

• Strong Communication skills

• Flexibility

• Self-Motivator

• Leadership and organizational skills

• Language Skills, fluent in English

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals

• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence

• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization at all levels, including janitorial, management, and executives

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals

• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs

• Reasoning ability

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form

• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations

• Strong computer skills needed including Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access) and multiple scheduling software programs (i.e. WMS and SAP) along with the ability to complete computer-based safety training

With headquarters in Broomfield, CO and White Plains, NY, Danone North America has more than 6,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada, and more than a dozen manufacturing facilities across North America. Our employees enjoy competitive pay and industry-leading benefits (including flexible (unlimited) time off and up to 26 weeks paid parental leave), and share a common mission and culture committed to both business results and social purpose. When you join Danone North America, you become part of a global team that is inspiring a healthier world through food.

Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.