The J.M. Smucker Co.
Company Employees
Rachael Yoder
QA Manager @J.M. Smucker Company
Verified
As a dedicated Quality Assurance Manager at The J.M. Smucker Co., I play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and quality of our pet food products. My work involves close collaboration with our manufacturing plants, where I drive food safety and quality initiatives. Here are the key aspects of my role: Leadership and Improvement Projects: I lead cross-functional improvement projects aimed at enhancing key quality metrics. These include: Cost of Quality: Implementing strategies to reduce costs. CCI Reduction: Analyzing feedback and implementing corrective actions. Defects per Million Reduction: Identifying root causes and implementing preventive measures. Non-Conforming Events Reduction: Developing processes to minimize non-conformities. By focusing on these metrics, I contribute to the overall success of our quality management system. On-Site Troubleshooting: I travel to our manufacturing sites to troubleshoot deviations and address quality-related issues firsthand. This hands-on approach allows me to identify opportunities for improvement and implement corrective actions promptly. Team Development: I work closely with plant QA managers and their teams to foster a culture of continuous improvement. Through training, mentoring, and performance feedback, I help develop skilled and motivated quality professionals. Accomplishments: Risk-Based Food Safety Escalation Policy: I revamped our Food Safety Escalation policy, transitioning it to a risk-based approach. This change ensures that critical issues receive immediate attention while minimizing unnecessary escalations. Voice of the Consumer (VOC) Process: I spearheaded the implementation of the VOC process. Through this we’ve made targeted improvements that directly impact our CCI Index and PQM numbers. Robust SSOPs: I led the development of robust SSOPs in high-risk areas of our manufacturing facilities. These procedures ensure consistent sanitation practices, contributing to product safety and quality.More...