Laboratory Analyst (In line Quality) X2 at Lactalis South Africa

Job Description    

• Reporting to the Functionally to Quality Manager, day to day Inline operations to C-Ordinator, the incumbent will be responsible for, amongst other duties, analysing daily samples using key equipment such as Foodscan, Milkoscan, Kjeltek, Cryoscope and their basic troubleshooting and maintenance.
• The timeous and accurate reporting of these results is key to supporting, amongst other stakeholders, the on-site production facility and quality assurance department.Production Line Set Up verification of Settings and Centreline

Required Skills    

• ND in Food Technology or Food Chemistry or Microbiology or SETA equivalent Qualification.
• At least one-year experience in a routine (food) laboratory.
• Sound knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (Including ethical and disciplined behaviour, safety, etc.)
• Sound knowledge of standard analytical test procedures.
• Basic knowledge of lab chemicals.
• Able to work under reasonable pressure.
• Flexibility to work after hours and on weekends where required
• Able to carry out tasks accurately within reasonable time constraints.
• Good knowledge of aseptic sample taking.
• Sound computer skills, in spreadsheets and word processing programs
• Communication, interpersonal and team working skills.
• Shall be able to think and operate independently.

Duties & Responsibilities    
Quality System:

• Maintain and provide inputs to update the specific quality procedures, instructions and tools which are directly related to their analyses and tests

Analytical methods and tests

• Conducting accurate analytical tests on samples, according to working instructions.
• Conduct Testing of all inline parameters as defined per shift
• Ensure validity of results by participating in proficiency and interlab testing as well precision monitoring of test methods
• Analysing results to ensure consistency to specifications
• Setting up, verification, calibration, maintenance, and cleaning of laboratory and Inline equipment.
• Preparation and submission of samples to external labs for testing

Results reporting:

• Timely reporting of consolidated results and trends to the functions concerned
• Reporting of abnormalities via notification of quality deviations and take immediate corrections
• Recording test results accurately and timeously onto documentation and MMS system.

Production:

• Take part in the quality and operations activities related to a launch
• Control systems of the process parameters on the production tools, following first productions
• Verification of production Equipment settings and Centrelines as per defined frequencies
• Monitor cleaning, change over activities and release of production lines after change for production
• Recognize erroneous and out of specification results, reporting them immediately, initiate corrective action and ensure documentation of the non-conformity.

Quality Mastership and Continuous Improvement 

• Perform analyses and tests as defined
• Perform training of operators and other technicians in performing simple analyses and tests related to their working area (as needed)
• Monitoring of analytical methods of analytical instruments in production
• Bring proposals for improvements field of competence (process, packaging, quality system,) which is adapted to the evolutions of the standards, procedures or organizations, tools and equipment’s
• Lead and participate in root cause analysis and continuous improvement of Quality related aspects within the lab and production department
• Analyses and uses KPIs for continuous improvement

Closing Date    

• 2025/06/12