Avinash Pandey
Quality Assurance Manager
Saudi Arabia
Summary of Career
1. A result oriented professional in FMCG with 18 years of rich experience across Global Corporate like UNILEVER in Quality Systems Management, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain.
2. Served UNILEVER almost 10 years in Corporate Quality Assurance followed by BASATEEN FOODS SAUDI ARABIA LTD, K.S.A. as a Quality Assurance Manager producing Mayonnaise, Ghee, Dressings & edible oil under esteemed brand named Mazola.
3. A keen planner & implementer with skills in ensuring successful ramp up of projects.
4. Extensive experience in Quality Assurance including conducting inspections, process improvements, Quality Agreements, vendor Quality certification, risk assessment and product & process audits.
5. Develop, review, update & authorize management system policy, technical procedure and other supporting documents in consultation with the top management & control of the same.Ensure personal & subordinate responsibilities are discharged strictly in accordance & requirements.
6. Plan & conduct Internal Audit & Management Review & ensure to review up-to-date schedule
7. An effective communicator & Team Leader with proven abilities to work in multicultural environment in managing Team & training them to ensure effective operations.
8. Strong problem solving, analytical and organizational abilities.
9. Expertise in handling a diverse range of operations entailing HPC & F&B operations, training & budgeting.
10. Expertise in designing & implementing training programs for keen customer focus, high energy level & team spirit in the employees.
Experience as Quality Assurance Officer
01 January 2002
14 August 2004
Achievements;
? Functioned Star Performer for consistent & good performance in increasing the percentage of yield.
? Gained exposure in handling low temperature products (dough based frozen products) at –26 degree centigrade and ambient shelf life product like Pizza Base & microbiological sensitive products.
? Got an opportunity to handle Wheat Flour Plant, Khopoli manufacturing products like PILLSBURY CHAKKI FRESH ATTA for both Export & domestic market as Junior Unit Head.
? Develop document better online Quality checks to improve process consistency & reduce variability in product.
? Developed procedures, service standards & operational policies & implemented effective control measures to reduce the running costs / unit.
? Root cause analysis of product complaint and take corrective action to avoid reoccurrence of the same.
? Implemented new process concepts for production optimization/ process improvement.
? Planned, proposed & executed modification in the system
• (Formulation & operationally), which was mutually agreed by R&D & CQA, prevented rejections.
• (Production SOP) for the Frozen Flat Bread is being followed by the plant, prevented market complaints.
Experience as Sr. Asst. 3P Operations
16 August 2004
31 January 2006
Achievements;
? Worked in close coordination with co-packers for maintaining International Quality Standard HACCP production of Saffola Cholesterol Control Atta (Flour) mix at the Co-packer plant.
? Recognized by the management for delivering consistent Quality product to the customer.
? HACCP audit was successfully completed with few suggestions for improvement in two month for one of the subcontract M/s Sonic Biochem Extractions Ltd., Indore.
? Involved in guidance & development of sub contract locations for Phase II of Functional Food products as well as skin care cream like Parachute After Shower Hair Nourishing Cream & implementing factory operations.
? Scouted & developed sub contract locations & implemented factory operations.
? Having knowledge about SAP. Handling day-to-day issues related to SAP & Non-SAP for Subcontract plants.
? Handled transactions related to incoming goods & outgoing FG & Quality results for the same in SAP.
? Agreement with all the transporter & Sub Contractors & renewal of the same.
? Handling co-packer issues in terms of Quality, commercial, plant maintenance, manpower & other legal issues.
? Entrusted with the responsibility for setting of Quality Standard & Operations at –
• Gujarat Ambuja Ltd. Akola (Edible Oil section) for Kardi Seed crushing operation Saffola brand.
The project was completed in 15 days & the commercial production started on 16th day.
• M/s Accrapac India Pvt. Ltd., Vapi for Kaya Skin Care products. Completed successfully in 15 days & got the appreciation letter from Top Management
• M/s Accrapac India Pvt. Ltd., Vapi for Parachute Advanced Hair Nourishing Lotion at.
The same has been completed successfully in one month & commercial production started on the 31st day.
Experience as Corporate Quality Assurance Gulf & KSA
Unilever
16 February 2006
31 October 2015
Achievements as Corporate Quality;
? Brought X-functional project for Quality wholesomeness of the products imported in to Arabia to eliminate execution-driven market Quality defects through Early Engagement of Quality in innovation deployment.
? Conducting & participating in risk assessment, approving artwork for all the projects being sourced to Arabia to comply with local requirement.
? Generated ICQA awareness (Inter Company Quality Agreement), for compliance with Unilever Arabia requirements within the Team & across the countries. 100% ICQA compliance was achieved in 1 year time.
? Played crucial role in screening product & its specification to have confidence on the product sustainability at Arabian conditions & meeting all the regulatory & customers’ requirements.
? Implemented robust Quality control for FG upon receipt at RDC to Strengthen & maintain the Quality System supporting to achieve Zero A&B category incidents.
? Rationalize the most affected products to contribute in reducing on shelf CRQS dpmu Red / Amber defects by communicating with SU's for CAPA & agree on actions and monitor the same.
? Increased Quality culture awareness throughout the Company. Training done for relevant parties for Quality requirements of finished goods and Quality systems to ensure critical Quality requirements.
? Coordinating Quality IRM training and activity with all stakeholders and maintain compliance
? Verifying artwork content and submitting deviations for corrections.
? Helping hands to R&D, Regulatory Gulf & KSA team.
? Coordinating with Sourcing Units, Finished Goods Import Department in Supply Chain, Innovation Planning and Brand Development for importation plans, networks and Quality system compliance, CAPA for deviations and Quality improvement projects as relevant
? Coordinates objectives with third party sourcing partners to maximize product reliability & minimize issues.
? Auditing new or proposed suppliers and ensure profiles are in line with Company requirements
? Generated Quality performance reports daily/weekly/monthly & that necessary feedback is reported to all Departments & Suppliers
? Dealing with consumers who complained to pacify & satisfy them on our product Quality & retaining them as our loyal consumers.
? Supporting & Managing market place incidents with the help of Team.
Achievements as QA Executive;
? Setting up Quality standards & stabilizing the production of new Caddy & Terminator Freshness Project at Unilever, Dubai. Received appreciation letter for the same.
? Being certified auditor performing a role of an Internal Quality Auditor. Hence faced various certification & surveillance audits.
? Successfully conducted weight optimization study in coordination with Technical team, implemented few changes in settings in Perfecta machine to minimize giveaway. Approx savings generated USD 120K per year.
? Successfully conducted dust reduction project i.e. reduction of Tea granules forcibly extracted thro’ dust extraction unit which led to potential savings approx 100kg of Tea granules per day (savings generated USD 75k per year)
? Suggested to condition the packaging material like filter paper before its use hence introduced humidification chamber & eliminated the defect of open crimping of tea bag, appreciated for the same.
? Discussed with supplier & suggested to have vibrator siever with 3 layers with different sieve size to eliminate FM matter complaint. Implemented & was appreciated for the same.
? Conducted Product Quality Audit (PQA) session involves analysis & comparison (consumer perceive quality) of Unilever & competitors product hence suggesting way forward to drive improvements if any.
Experience as Corporate Quality Assurance Manager
31 July 2016
The Key Deliverables;
? Responsible for Quality Assurance Operations of all Units across CFL & 3Ps.
? Developed & Implemented GLP, GMP & Quality Protocols at CFL Plants & it’s 3Ps
? Conducted regular Quality audits at 4 CFL plants to ensure effective QMS implementation.
? Reviewed status of cGLP & cGMP at regular intervals.
? Active participation in plant trial & technology transfer of all NPD’s
? Keep the plant upgraded with latest requirements of local FSSAI & International Standards.
? Artwork approval & product registration with local authorities.
? Coordinate with R & D for standards and specifications.
Experience as Quality Assurance Manager
01 August 2016
31 October 2019
Achievements;
? Upgraded successfully IMS ISO SGS certification from 2008 to 2015 version along with FSSC 22000, Jan 2017.
? Coordinated new product development activities closely with cross functional team sales & Marketing to its successful launch into various markets.
? Ensured laboratory functions on site with Safety with zero incident, timely & have efficient analysis as per SOP.
? Developed KPI’s for all department aligning with latest international standard to achieve organization goal altogether as a team, Trend analysis of the same to highlight potential issues proactively to be on track.
? Reduced critical market complaints like fly, hair, foreign matters & leakages.
? Implemented various Engineering controls in order to strengthen the Quality Assurance system thus having defect free product in the market.
? Monitoring shelf-life samples of all the products new & existing to make sure behavior of product within the GSO standard until its shelf life.
? Increased expiration date of the BFSA products in Glass jars for Mayonnaise & PET bottles for oils as they are good oxygen barrier packaging materials which facilitated our sales team to improve sales drastically.
? Changed date coding system by having proper alignment with stake holders & customers in various countries & eliminated cost of non-conformances associated with it.
? Implemented training program in order to ensure continued development of all team members ensuring that an adequately maintained skills inventory is in place.
? 100% Review done for specifications, updated to meet latest standard & introduced new for missing ones.
? Achieved great cost saving by developing many new suppliers & generating competition among them.
? Eliminated business waste, contributed by raw material by conducting continuous monitoring for the same which was expiring inside the factory before its use.
? Attend various SFDA conferences & keep BFSA updated with latest requirements across Gulf countries.
? Harmonized artwork according to latest SFDA requirements across all the sku’s.
? Faced various strict SFDA surprise audits & followed up to have closure for the same within given time frame.
? Achieved appreciation from SFDA auditor, being 2nd company in whole Saudi Arabia to meet all the SFDA requirements in terms of labeling & product.
? Implemented surprise GMP audit system thus improved factory hygiene & GMP standard & brought the company 5S standard to next level.
? Big cost saving done on rental warehouse by implementing 5S & detecting non & slow moving items.
? BOM reviewed & consumption corrected for all the products in order to minimize the variance between system vs physical.
? Scouted & developed packaging materials as per Marketing needs like upside down bottles for Mayonnaise & cartons for different promotion activities.
Bachelor 15 April 2001
B.Sc. Chemistry from Pune University