Production Utility 2 at The J.M. Smucker Co. in Emporia, KS

Foreign Material Task Force Inspector – Emporia

Your Opportunity as a Foreign Material Task Force Inspector
The Foreign Material Task Force Inspector plays a hands-on, highly visible role in protecting product safety by actively identifying, verifying, and escalating foreign material risks within production areas. This role is focused on daily execution and verification of foreign material prevention controls through sustained floor presence, detailed observation, and consistent documentation.

In this role, you will spend the majority of your shift in production environments performing structured foreign material inspections, observing employee practices, and verifying that established controls are working as intended. Your work will directly support compliance with food safety, GMP, and customer requirements while helping prevent foreign material incidents before they occur.

This position is well suited for a detail-oriented individual who is comfortable working independently, communicating clearly with operations and QA leadership, and consistently applying standards in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

In this role you will:

• Inspect product contact belts and surfaces for potential foreign material hazards such as broken or loose belt tiles, loose parts, or debris.
• Identify and document loose labels, stickers, or other non-product materials on equipment or machinery.
• Witness and document one filler check from start to finish per shift, covering one assigned production line per day as assigned by FM Task Force Leader.
• Verify tools are on the approved tool list and meet plant control requirements.
• Inspect cooling tunnels for condensation, dripping, or moisture over product or belts.
• Verify ambient coolers, rack coolers, and step coolers are free from condensation or dripping water that could impact product.
• Verify that raw material storage cooler is within proper temperature specification.
• Inspect pipes, ceilings, walls, and overhead structures near and above the product zone for leaks, condensation, peeling paint, rust, or other foreign material hazards, and immediately notify management of any condition that presents direct product risk.
• Verify all ingredient totes and barrels are covered, properly labeled, and in good condition with no cracking, damage, or contamination risk.
• Identify and escalate ingredient or packaging material conditions that could introduce foreign material.
• Inspect production lines and surrounding areas to ensure they are clean, orderly, and free of debris that could create a foreign material risk.
• Verify brooms, dustpans, and caution signs are clean, in good condition, and stored in assigned locations.
• Observe employee practices to verify compliance with GMP requirements intended to prevent foreign material contamination.
• Monitor glove practices, including proper use, correct change frequency, and prevention of misuse or contamination risks.
• Complete end-of-shift documentation and review email direction from management, limited to approximately 30 minutes per shift.
• Prepare and send an End of Shift (EOS) report summarizing observations, findings, and escalations to the Foreign Material Task Force Leader.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Prior experience in manufacturing, quality, food safety, sanitation, or a related operational role preferred.
• Working knowledge of GMPs and foreign material risks in food manufacturing environments.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to consistently apply standards.
• Ability to identify hazards, document findings clearly, and escalate concerns promptly.
• Comfort working independently on the production floor for extended periods.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Outlook for email communication and reporting.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand basic English to follow written procedures, complete required documentation, and communicate effectively with management.

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

• Experience with food safety inspections, GMP monitoring, or quality verification activities.
• Familiarity with food safety audit expectations such as BRCGS, FSMA, or customer standards.
• Experience documenting findings and communicating with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to remain objective, consistent, and thorough under routine and repetitive inspection tasks.

Work Environment: This job operates in a manufacturing environment. The noise level in the work environment and manufacturing sites can be high.

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to talk and hear.
• Frequently required to stand and walk; use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; and visually inspect equipment and structures at various heights.
• Occasionally required to sit; climb ladders or platforms; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Arrangements: 100% on-site. Shift-based role aligned with production schedules. Willingness to support varying production needs and spend extended time on the manufacturing floor. This will be a PM shift position

The Right Place for You 

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs. 

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn®  

The Right Place for You 

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs. 

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn® 

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.