SINDHU MK
UAE
Summary
Experienced Food Safety and Quality Manager with a proven track record in maintaining the highest level of food safety and hygiene standards. Skilled in conducting daily inspections, identifying violations, and taking corrective action. Proficient in conducting regular hygiene and sanitation audits and internal audits. Knowledgeable in food safety, hazard analysis, CCP monitoring, and quality control. Committed to ensuring the display of safe, high-quality, and consistent food products in compliance with organizational and municipality norms. Experienced in auditing production areas and providing internal training. Looking to leverage my expertise in food safety and quality management to contribute to a dynamic organization.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work history
Senior Food Inspection Specialist
RAK Municipality
04.2023 - Current
- Created standards for inspectors and Food Business Operators (FBOs) in different industries such as Retail, Hospitality, Catering, Small Business, Bakery, and Confectionary, categorized by size (Small, Medium, and Large Scale)
- Projected 2-year Training Enhancement Program for RAK Municipality, revamping current food safety training initiatives and creating fresh content for Secondary Level Training programs
- Running training sessions, promoting awareness and developing posters to educate the public about food safety regulations
- Inspecting small, medium, and large hospitality, catering, manufacturing etc establishments in accordance with local regulations and Codex hygiene standards and ensure identified risks are mitigated
- Collaborating with FBO's to identify hazards and implement controls to minimize risks in various operations.
Food Safety and Quality Manager
Country Hill International LLC
07.2017 - 04.2023
- As a Quality Department Manager, I spearheaded the development, implementation, and monitoring of robust food safety protocols and practices across all operational areas, including butchery, production, warehousing, live demo kitchen, and retail counters
- This comprehensive approach enabled us to achieve A Grades, FSSC 5.1, and ISO 22000:2018 certifications for all facilities within the CHI Group
- Audits, Inspections, and Corrective Actions: Conducted regular audits and inspections to identify areas for improvement and ensure strict adherence to food safety standards
- Upon identifying non-conformities, implemented corrective actions to rectify them and continuously improved food safety practices.Training and Guidance: Provided comprehensive training and guidance to staff on food safety practices and procedures, ensuring that all team members were well-equipped to maintain impeccable food safety standards
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging the expertise of various departments to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.Established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and working instructions related to food safety, ensuring proper cascading to relevant stakeholders
- This included protocols for allergen management, foreign body checklists, and other critical aspects of food safety
- Handled Quality, Health, and Safety operations, including first-party and second-party auditing, management meetings, handling customer complaints, root cause analysis, and gap closure as per standard requirements.Engineering Department Management: developing preventive maintenance, breakdown handling, incident reporting processes, and procedures
- Tracked equipment and facility-related maintenance issues, ensuring timely resolution.Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness: Developed a crisis management program and emergency preparedness system, ensuring the organization was well-prepared to handle any unforeseen events related to food safety or other emergencies
- Carried out risk analysis with direct stakeholders to pre-emit 90% potential quality and safety issues
- Product Safety and Compliance: Oversaw NPD, food sampling, laboratory analysis, and report verification to confirm the safety of products
- Additionally, I handled the registration of product labels as per regulatory requirements and maintained continuous coordination with government bodies.Reporting and Analysis: Developed trend reports for quality and food safety objectives, managing compliance registries, incidents, Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) events, wastage, customer complaints, etc
- I also identified trends and occurrences to drive further improvements.Special Projects and Team Development: Assisted in special projects such as new warehouse construction, racking, and kitchen layout design, as requested by senior management
- Additionally, I conducted team development activities, managed grievances cells, facilitated whistle-blowing, and organized staff motivation programs to ensure a positive work environment.
Assistant Quality Manager
Bakers Circle India and the Middle East
12.2015 - 07.2017
- Implemented and enforced automated practice systems to ensure consistent quality in frozen bread production
- This involved collecting production samples regularly and conducting detailed quality inspections, which significantly reduced lot rejections and non-compliance issues by closely monitoring the production line.To uphold food safety standards, developed policies, plans, and guidelines aligned with SUBWAY and FSSC 22000 requirements
- These processes and procedures were crucial in maintaining product safety and compliance.Training played a vital role in improving performance and adhering to food safety requirements
- Trained support managers and team members to enhance their understanding and implementation of food safety protocols
- Recording, analyzing, and distributing statistical information on rejections and performance throughout the shelf life of frozen bread products allowed for continuous improvement and informed decision-making.I oversaw microbial and chemical laboratory testing activities through an ISO 17025 accredited lab, evaluating results to guarantee the safety of the product.Coordination with local regulatory bodies for approvals, inspections, and permits ensured compliance with all relevant regulations
- Establishing and tracking quality department goals and objectives ensured alignment with overall business objectives.Specifying quality requirements of raw materials with suppliers helped maintain consistency in product quality
- Conducted training and change management processes facilitated operational improvements and ensured staff competency.Investigating and resolving customer complaints was crucial for fostering satisfaction and maintaining brand reputation.Maintaining regular contact with the SUBWAY team helped identify opportunities to enhance training programs and deliver added value.
Food Safety Auditor
Standard Global Quality Certification
02.2016 - 12.2016
- Conducted certification audits on ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, HACCP and GMP to evaluate system compliance
- Implemented BRC and ISO 9001 standards for foodservice establishments and assisted for the certification process
- Worked with the food Safety team to resolve quality problems, improve operations and provide exceptional customer service
- Trained professional batches with BFH, PIC, HACCP Level 3, GMP, Food Safety Awareness, Internal audit programmes.
Quality Assurance Executive
Max Hypermarket India Private Limited.(Landmark Group)
03.2013 - 09.2015
- Store/FSMS Audits and Supplier/Third-Party Audits: Conducted audits on store operations and Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), as well as audits on suppliers and third-party entities
- These audits helped to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance with quality standards
- Evaluated audit findings from retail outlets and implemented appropriate corrective actions to address any identified issues or deficiencies
- PL Vendor Facility Audit: Implemented audits on private label (PL) vendor facilities, covering both food and non-food products
- These audits aimed to ensure that vendors met the necessary quality standards and compliance requirements
- Developed schemes and criteria for new product development and conducted customer feedback surveys
- Customer Complaint System and Root-Cause Problem Solving: Established a customer complaint system and implemented root-cause problem-solving methodologies
- This led to a significant decrease in customer complaints, demonstrating the effectiveness of proactive quality management
- Contribution to Quality Assurance Objectives: Contributed to achieving quality assurance objectives by providing information and analysis for strategic plans and reviews
- I also prepared and completed action plans to address quality-related goals
- Specification of Quality Requirements: Developed Product specifications for raw materials, including fruits and vegetables, non-vegetarian products, bakery items, and dairy products, in collaboration with supplier.
Assistant Manager Technical Compliance
CQM Quality Management Pvt Ltd
06.2012 - 12.2012
- Managed and archived quality documentation and participated in internal and external quality audits
- Converted community contacts into potential clients through networking, consistency, and credibility
- Worked with cashew and seafood customers to understand requirements and provide exceptional HACCP service
- Supported marketing programs and campaigns with content and messaging to drive demand
- Updated quality control standards, methods, and procedures to meet FSSAI compliance requirements.
Dairy Chemist
MILMA
06.2010 - 06.2012
- Implemented QMS and HACCP standards as per milk and value-added milk products
- Developed training modules and staff training programs
- Established and tracked quality department goals and objectives
- Tracked quality issues with external customers, suppliers, and internal plant operations and reduced by 60%
- Developed quality planning for multiple new value-added product launches by verifying customer requirements and implementing in design and production
- Estimated financial requirements of lab operation and reduced lab costs by introducing proper control measures
- Reduced wastage and improved batch clearance programs by implementing control measures
- Assigned the tasks of maintaining a proper record of inventory of items
- Provided training to the staff related to processing, GHP, GMP, and tests undergone
- Internal Auditing, Documentation, monitoring, and validation of all laboratory activities.
Education
Masters In Microbiology -
GPA: 7.45
Skills
- Microsoft Office Tools
- Problem-Solving
- Analytical Thinking
- Project Management
- Interpersonal Skills
- Regulatory Knowledge
- Adaptability
- Cost controls
- Workflow planning
- Training
- Project budgeting
Accomplishments
- Successfully upgraded facility to achieve the highest ranking in customer satisfaction, compliance, and certification audits.
- Participated in over 50 audits of food businesses, ensuring compliance with Food safety standards
- Developed guidelines and posters for public awareness
Languages
English
Hindi
Timeline
Senior Food Inspection Specialist - RAK Municipality
04.2023 - Current
Food Safety and Quality Manager - Country Hill International LLC
07.2017 - 04.2023
Food Safety Auditor - Standard Global Quality Certification
02.2016 - 12.2016
Assistant Quality Manager - Bakers Circle India and the Middle East
12.2015 - 07.2017
Quality Assurance Executive - Max Hypermarket India Private Limited.(Landmark Group)
03.2013 - 09.2015
Assistant Manager Technical Compliance - CQM Quality Management Pvt Ltd
06.2012 - 12.2012
Dairy Chemist - MILMA
06.2010 - 06.2012
Bharathiar University - Masters In Microbiology,