Quality Control Technician
Quality control technicians ensure that processed and manufactured food products are produced safely and follow quality standards. They perform day-to-day quality control activities, such as internal audits, recommend corrective actions, perform checks on production lines and test in-progress products in the laboratory.
Future Job Market
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Fair
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Good
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Excellent
Typical Employers:
Government inspection agencies, and food production, chemical, seed, medical, health companies and a variety of agricultural laboratory settings employ quality control technicians.
Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations:
- Society of Quality Assurance
- Quality Assurance Association
- Society of Nutrition and Food Science
Salary:
$44,000?
SAE Connections:
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Inspect raw materials and ensure they adhere to quality standards
- Conduct daily audits on good manufacturing practices (GMPs)
- Perform biological swabbing, product sampling and allergen/species testing
- Conduct in-lab testing of products to ensure finished product specifications
- Place products on hold if they do not adhere to food safety or quality standards
- Assist during third-party audits, being available for questions and documentation
- Ensure operations paperwork is completed correctly
- Conduct sensory evaluations on raw materials for in-process and finished products (e.g., taste, color, odor)
- Calibrate and verify lab equipment
- Work collaboratively with production staff to ensure product is manufactured according to standards
- Assist in customer complaint investigations
- Complete paperwork and other reporting tasks including trend analysis, shift reports and nonconformance
- Perform quality control checks such as correct packaging and weight
- Support production staff with questions about food quality and safety
- Keep office and laboratory spaces clean and sanitary
- Follow and comply with all safety regulations
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education
- mathematics
- chemistry
- biology
- family and consumer sciences
Education/Training Required:
An associate or bachelor’s degree in agricultural science, biology, microbiology, food science, chemistry or a related degree is needed to become a quality control technician. Food safety certifications may be needed for specialization to implement certain food safety regulations.
