Milne Fruit Products, Inc

Job Description Lab Technician

Department: Laboratory FLSA Status: Regular/Full-Time Reports to: Quality Assurance Supervisor Hourly/Non-exempt Date: May 2012 Non-bargaining

Summary Responsible for assisting the QA Supervisor in the testing, recording and analyzing of all products manufactured by the organization to ensure customer specifications are met and superior quality requirements are achieved while maintaining production flow. Assists in the development and maintenance of QA systems and procedures to assure superior products and ensure the successful completion of third party audits.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assists the QA Supervisor in implementing procedures to detect any quality deviations.

2. Interact with Production Management to resolve quality problems.

3. Verify and record lot numbers, total pounds, supplier and other parameters as required.

4. Generate spreadsheets and documents needed for QA and Production documentation.

5. Assist the QA supervisor in investigation plant quality deviations or problems.

6. Inspect the lab area and bacteriological room. Clean and organize as required.

7. Perform bacteriological testing.

8. Assist in maintaining an adequate inventory of laboratory supplies. Notify the QA Supervisor when chemical supplies need replenished.

9. Assist in maintaining an accurate inventory of all product samples stored in small laboratory freezers and cold storage areas. Assist in maintaining the cleanliness of the storage areas to retained samples. Defrost, clean and organize the laboratory freezers as required.

10. Notify the QA Supervisor of all unusual occurrences encountered during the performance of assigned duties.

11. Gain a thorough knowledge of, and comply with, all laboratory and plant policies.

4. Assist the QA Supervisor with the coordinating of testing for pesticides and authenticity as required by customers, reviewing customer/supplier complaints and reports; assisting with QA crosschecks, monthly plant inspections and maintaining customer specification files.

5. Assist the QA Supervisor to prepare for and assist in representing MFP on all QC audits. Gain a thorough understanding of MFP's quality system and customer requirements. Considerable knowledge of the Production Plant functions is necessary in order for the audit to be effective.

13. Other duties as assigned and directed Qualification Requirements To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience • High school diploma or GED. Advance scientific education preferred. • Two – five years’ work experience demonstrating increasing responsibility. Quality Assurance experience in a food lab preferred. • Scientific aptitude. Training in QA Analysis and lab equipment (brix, acid, pH, pulp determinations, sediment, clarity, color and bacteriological processes) preferred. • PC-based computing experience (word processing-Word, spreadsheet-Excel, email-Outlook). • An equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Language Skills • Ability to read and comprehend English and scientific/technical manuals and regulations • Ability to relate well with all level’s of MFP staff, customers and outside agencies. • Professional writing skills to compose memos, letters and other business correspondence observing all rules of grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Mathematical Skills • Ability to conduct the precision measurement and process capability studies essential to QA.

Reasoning Ability • Ability to critically problem solve issues of quality and processing. • Ability to make decisions, exhibit sound and accurate judgment and make timely decisions. • Ability to manage details and comprehend full scope of QA duties

Environmental Conditions • Indoors in an office environment (25%); indoors in a laboratory environment (65%); in and out of doors in the processing plant (10%). • Potential workplace hazards in the laboratory and processing plant. All safety regulations and use of PPE’s must be followed. • Frequently work at fast pace with unscheduled interruptions. • May move from one work location to another frequently. • Requires frequent interaction with customers and regulatory agencies that may be stressful. • Manages multiple deadlines.

Physical Demands • Mobility among office, lab and plant facility. • Ability to work in production plant environment which may include heat, cold, noise. • Ability to sit, stand, talk, hear, taste, smell, reach, bend, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. • Ability to use keyboard and monitor. • Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

ADA: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its amendments. Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

I understand that this job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity and that essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

I have read this job description and have had an opportunity to ask questions regarding my job duties and expectations of performance.

______Employee Signature Date