Raw materials coordinator in Spalding

The Princes Group has over 7,000 employees with offices and production sites in the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, France and Mauritius. Princes manufactures different food and drink products responsibly sourced and enjoyed by consumers every day. None of this would be possible without striving to be an employer of choice, where our colleagues are proud to represent our business.

Reporting to the Technical Manager Canneries, this role has responsibility for co-ordinating all activities concerning raw material quality.

This role will provide support, guidance, trended data and technical expertise ensuring the sites incoming raw materials are bought to the correct spec and meet the requirements to produce the best quality consistent finished pack. As a part of the Technical function, this role will work with LS and WS to ensure compliance with food safety legislation, achieve highest grade possible in all external audits, increase knowledge of raw material quality/attributes and improve ways of working, based on the values below:

• Quality
• Cost
• Delivery
• Safety
• People

Dimensions:

• Responsible for defining the appropriate incoming raw material test methods.
• Responsible for defining the testing schedule for the raw materials intake samples.
• Responsible for the due diligence testing schedule.
• Review the incoming raw material test results and trend.
• Manage the QNC database for both LS and WS.
• Review and approve new MQS.
• Approve HG specs for LS and WS for the QA team.
• Keep up to date with horizon scanning on raw material issues.
• Support the G1(LS) and shift coordinators (WS) in the EDR and objective setting for the raw material and lab technicians.
• SME for all the test methods for raw material testing and trainer.
• Instigation and management of raw material related improvement projects.
• Work with operational/procurement peer groups sharing best practice and providing advice and support as required.
• Monitor supplier performance and report.
• Support Supplier Assurance team and sites in performing external supplier visits and audits.
• Arrange for or produce the photographic quality standards for raw materials.

Key Relationships:

• Company QA Managers
• Process Improvement Coordinators
• Supply chain materials team
• Manufacturing Managers and Coordinators
• Procurement teams
• Supplier assurance teams
• Quality systems manager and Specification teams

External to company:

• Suppliers
• External testing labs
• Academic institutions

Key Responsibilities:

• Raw Material Testing: Ensure all the test methods used are consistent across sites for the same material. Review the test methods and constantly assess whether they best represent the factory process results. Work with suppliers or external testing bodies and assess methods used. If no suitable method exists, experiment and trial to design an appropriate method. Ensure the sampling regime is representative of the batches being tested and gives the site confidence in the results to ensure good performance within the factory. Ensure the critical parameters required are being tested for each raw material and that the levels are consistent with the MQS for that material. Responsible for the testing equipment. Evaluate if it is appropriate, consistent across sites, fit for purpose, ease of use, cost of running plus consumables, safe, reliable and gives consistent results. Responsible for looking for alternatives, replacements and new equipment based on the above. Evaluate by testing prior to purchase. Review and trend the results from the testing of raw materials, use the data to understand the effect of seasonal changes, work with suppliers to improve quality standards, work with operational teams using the results on quality and yield improvement, and work with procurement teams to source the best materials. SME for all the test methods. Responsible for all the training of the test methods and equipment. Write and review the SOPs of the test methods.
• Due Diligence Testing: Work with the Supplier Assurance team and the Quality Systems Manager to devise a schedule for due diligence testing which covers both product integrity and customer COPs. Ensure all the relevant samples are taken of raw materials and sent for the required testing as per the agreed schedule. Liaise with Chichester Technical to ensure no duplication of testing. Review results of the testing and report where appropriate. Review the service levels from the external laboratories used for the testing and also look at the costings. Find alternative laboratories if required based on cost and service. Develop and review an escalation process for actioning of OOS results.
• Quality Non Conformance (QNC): Review the QNC process to ensure it is always relevant and delivering the business requirements. Train all relevant personnel on how the QNC process works. Trend and review the data from the QNC database, share the information with relevant parties – procurement, materials team, site technical and operations. Provide regular reports of supplier performance based on the QNCs to the BOT meeting and Supplier Assurance team. Use the information from the database to prioritise the quality review meetings with suppliers, both frequency and content. Use the information from the QNC database to guide the Process Improvement teams in the selection of projects. Work closely with the Supplier Assurance team to conduct supplier audits where required – following up on poor performance, approval of new suppliers and routine scheduled audits.
• Raw Material Specifications: Review and approve MQS documents. Provide relevant photographic standards for raw materials to be either put in the MQS or to be used during intake checks. Review and approve HG specifications following consultation with both WS and LS technical teams. Liaise with Chichester on any issues with HG specifications to agree on approval.
• Horizon Scanning: Keep up to date with the trends in issues within the raw materials we purchase. Work with suppliers and procurement on any issues they may be aware of and relay to relevant areas of the business.
• Team: Support the shift coordinators in the EDR process for the raw material and lab technicians, give feedback on performance and help to devise suitable SMART objectives. Step in to support with the raw material testing if required.
• Process Improvement: Instigation and management of raw material related improvement projects, work with all disciplines to ensure we can achieve the best quality and yield of finished goods, in a cost-effective way. Work with our suppliers to gain knowledge of key raw materials. Devise training programmes and deliver them, to share the knowledge gained. Arrange for key raw material suppliers to deliver training on site where required.

To maintain product Food Safety, Legality, Integrity, Authenticity and Quality standards by ensuring all associated policies and procedures are adhered to.

Role Requirements: Carry out any other tasks as may be reasonably requested by your line manager. These are the key daily tasks, not a comprehensive list of all tasks undertaken by the jobholder. Flexibility is required by the business & this will be agreed with the individual’s line manager.

Benefits:

• 25 Days Annual Leave plus Birthday off
• 14.5% Pension – 5% employee opt in / 9.5% employer
• Flexible Holiday Option - Buy 5 Additional Days
• Enhanced Family Friendly & Carers Policies
• Life Assurance Cover
• Private Medical Insurance
• Critical Illness Cover
• Learning & Development Opportunities