Financial

·        Compile a yearly capital, operating and manpower budget within the guidelines provided.

·        Plan for capital requirements for the lab (5 year maintenance and equipment replacement plan.

·        Monitor and manage laboratory’s expenditure and provide corrective actions to address or correct variances. In line with the financial budget or costs saving directives.

·        Evaluation of new suppliers to ensure cost and quality effectiveness and engineering control relating to lab equipment and chemicals on an ongoing basis.

·        Support the achievement of the objectives and targets set out in the mill operational scorecard.

    People

·        Coaches and mentors QC team ensuring achievement of Department and Mill Objectives

·        Communicates and collaborates effectively with others

·        Proactively builds professional relationships with the Production, Materials and SHER teams as well as with line management.

·        Develops good relationships with key external service providers

.Subordinate and co-worker effectiveness 

Monitor the achievement of objectives, set as part of performance agreements (Scorecards).

Implement an effective feedback and rewards system.

 Put in place an individual development plan for each subordinate (training and personal development)

 Performance Management System

·        Share and ensure understanding of Mill and Departmental Objectives with the team.

·        Develop Performance Contracts for the QAFS Team.

·        Review and discuss performance results in order to rectify and develop potential.

·        Develop IDPs for the team and submit to HR as per Performance Management Cycle.

·        Address development gaps that hinder performance through agreed developmental plans  timely.

 Training

·        Ensure that theoretical and practical laboratory training is done for relevant employees in accordance with an agreed training programme.

·        Monthly review of the status of the training through internal ring analysis.

·        Provide feedback

  Business Processes

An effective Analytical Services

·        Ensure processes are in place to obtain the required resources, monitor the performance of the lab and to plan and implement new or revised processes to enhance the service or to expand on existing services. Identify problem areas with regards to raw materials, semi-finished and final products.

·        Implement and monitor effective systems to ensure compliance with relevant ISO and OSHAS standards and requirements and ensuring that:

o   Quality documentation and records are continually updated and benchmarked

o   Lab equipment is maintained to provide reliable and fast analytical results.

o   Audit findings (internal and external audits) are promptly and effectively addressed.

 Micro Support

·        Submit a month end report based on micro results to highlight improvements and decline in product quality and to identify potential problem areas based on conformance trends.

·        Provide graphs on a monthly basis that will indicate micro trends for the process as well as the final product.

 Analytical Support

Efficiently approved final product for despatch, effective process control support, and effective control of non-conforming product and approved raw materials for incorporation into the manufacturing process.

·        Analyse lab reports and production log sheets and inform and advise the responsible people of any process or final product deviations from specification.

·        Check accuracy of monthly stats report (must provide a true reflection of production tendencies) and discuss with relevant responsible persons. Ensure that the report is submitted as per schedule.

·        Ensure that Non-conforming Product Reports are raised, that disposition instructions are followed and that corrective action is taken.

·        Prepare an age analysis on the time taken to close out Non-conforming Reports, analyse the trends and present at the Management Review Meetings.

Process and efficiency support

Ensure effective analytical support to effluent and process control and efficiency programmes within the mill,

Advise the plant on deviations and possible causes and effect. Generate reports and provide info on request.

Support troubleshooting and investigations or projects to optimise the digester/ effluent disposal conditions and the efficiency of the process.

Ensure processes are in place to enable the department to undertake projects e.g. obtain the required resources and to plan and implement new or revised processes to enhance the service or to expand on existing services.

·        Review process results and identify problem areas. Distribute meaningful graphs on process performance every month.

·        Stay abreast of new developments and trends (equipment, methods, processes)

·        Undertake projects focused on the effective resolution of process problems, optimisations, possible improvements and introduction of new processes and the effects thereof.

·         Monitor the performance of the department in terms of investigations done, lab trials, recommendations made and improvements achieved.

·        Ensure that all non-routine analysis is documented and review these monthly to establish needs and trends.

   Raw Material & Final product Specifications

·        Review the current Raw Material and Final products Specification together with the relevant responsible persons.

·        Update regularly by including all newly approved materials and making any necessary changes.

 Proficiency and Ring analyses

Ensure that the performance of the lab as part of the internal ring analysis and proficiency programme is satisfactory and ensure corrective actions to improve and maintain performance are effective.

·        Ensure that samples submitted for ring analyses are analysed as per schedule.

·        Review the preliminary results and have samples reanalysed, if necessary. Comment on performance and justify results that fall outside the tolerance.

·        Draw up a programme to perform spot checks on final products and process.

·        Discuss deviations with the responsible people and agree on corrective action.

 Service levels. Satisfied clients

 Customer complaints

Identify problem areas. Liaise with clients to ensure understanding of their needs and how well we meet those needs, investigate and follow up on complaints and putting in place an effective reporting system.

·        Provide resolution to complaints that will prevent recurrences.

·        Ensure a fast and accurate response to customer complaints.

·        Prepare an age analyses on the time taken to close out complaints and include in the monthly report.

·        Monitor trends and inform or advise the responsible people at the Management Review Meetings.

Customer Audit Reports

·        Ensure that findings made by customer are documented.

·        Monthly check progress made on corrective action taken.

·        Report on resolution of findings at Management Review Meetings.

·        Provide feedback to Marketing/Customers.

 Customer Visit Schedule

·        Arrange customer visits with Marketing and include feedback on visits in monthly report.

·        Build up a database on customer requirements and specifications by liaising with customer and Marketing on quality issues.

 Concession Reports

·        Determine the percentage of concessions granted each month in terms of the number of batches/deliveries per month and include in the monthly report.

 Risk Management

Monitor compliance with safety regulations, corrective actions are undertaken.

Plan, monitor civil maintenance

Continual improvement (monitor) of the working environment.

  Safety Investigation Reports

·        Ensure monthly safety inspections are done and findings discussed at Safety Meetings.

·        Follow up on corrective action taken by responsible people to ensure prompt rectification.

  HACCP System