AJAY SOLANKI
London
Summary
Skilled food manufacturing professional with six years in production and current role as Quality Auditor. Demonstrates strong knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety standards. Collaborates effectively with production teams to investigate issues and implement corrective actions. Seeking Section Leader position to leverage expertise in quality control and continuous improvement.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
QUALITY AUDITOR
GREENCORE / BAKKAVOR
09.2022 - 03.2023
- Audit compliance against Quality Management Systems, GMP and HACCP controls, raising non-conformances with objective evidence and following actions through to closure.
- Collaborated with production, hygiene and management teams to identify risks, agree corrective actions and monitor implementation progress.
- Carry out Listeria/environmental swabbing and support site activity aimed at reducing environmental contamination risks, including additional swabbing during investigations.
- Supported an egg fried rice investigation by carrying out additional environmental checks and working with the relevant teams to understand potential causes.
- Support customer and external audits by preparing traceability information, training records and other required documentation; supported an M&S audit, including mass balance and traceability activity.
- Investigate customer complaints and incidents, helping establish potential sources, affected production details and appropriate corrective actions.
- Support GMP audits and production walk-arounds, checking hygiene, PPE, equipment condition, CCP controls and general food-safety standards.
- Delivered quality guidance to production colleagues, clearly communicating requirements when standards or controls were not met.
- Facilitated training for hygiene operatives and colleagues, including QCP and Perficooler-related training, enhancing understanding of correct controls and expectations.
- Supported Bizerba metal detection validation and other quality-control activities, ensuring checks are completed in line with site requirements.
- Conducted pH, viscosity, temperature, calibration, taste-panel, and other quality checks.
- Work with production teams during busy periods and when resources are limited, helping maintain required quality and food-safety controls.
- Attend meetings, put forward action plans and monitor progress, taking ownership of actions and communicating issues to relevant managers.
- Provide technical support during customer visits and audits and help the factory team respond effectively to quality and compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated leadership through maintaining high standards of GMP, food safety, and professional communication.
- Lead by example by maintaining high standards of GMP, food safety, accuracy and professional communication.
- Support colleagues rather than simply identifying faults: explain the requirement, help identify the cause and work with the team towards a practical solution.
- Use investigations and trend information to identify recurring problems and support preventative action.
- Work across Quality, Production and Hygiene functions to resolve issues and keep the operation focused on safe, compliant production.
- Support training and knowledge transfer so colleagues understand processes, controls and the reasons behind them.
SEMI-SKILLED OPERATIVE
BAKKAVOR
02.2021 - 03.2023
- Worked to production requirements while maintaining product quality, food safety and specification.
- Verified finished products met specifications and customer requirements to maintain quality standards.
- Managed critical control point processes to ensure safety standards were met. including heat treatment and chilling.
- Weighed and handled materials accurately while adhering to food-safety and hygiene requirements to prevent contamination.
- Completed accurate production documentation in compliance with site quality procedures to ensure traceability.
- Supported NPD trials and product launches and completed pre-production and hygiene checks.
AIRPORT TECHNICIAN
ESP GLOBAL SERVICES, HEATHROW TERMINAL 5
05.2019 - 10.2020
- Liaised with Airport Supervisor on additional work and parts requirements to facilitate operational continuity.
- Conducted inspections and documented defects for Workshop Supervisor prior to repairs or parts requisition.
- Maintained accurate paperwork and high standards of repair and maintenance quality.
- Quarantined and labelled defective tooling, ensuring immediate reporting for prompt resolution.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT
OMNISERV / ABM, HEATHROW TERMINAL 3
07.2018 - 05.2019
- Thrived in fast-paced, multi-tasking environment, maintaining excellent attendance and punctuality.
- Monitored response times and KPIs, contributing to performance improvement efforts.
- Executed SOPs and fulfilled duties assigned by supervisors and managers.
- Collaborated with team members and completed tasks independently to achieve project goals.
PROCESS CONTROLLER
BAKKAVOR
03.2016 - 05.2018
- Monitored critical control parameters in factory processes to ensure adherence to quality standards.
- Completed production documentation accurately, adhering to site quality procedures to maintain compliance.
- Communicated production and quality issues promptly to Quality Auditor and Manager, facilitating timely resolutions.
- Followed corrective actions through and supported their closure.
- Worked across production and quality functions, developing a strong understanding of operational control, food safety and performance.
- Supported customer visits and audits by demonstrating standard practices and site requirements.
PRODUCTION OPERATIVE
BAKKAVOR
02.2012 - 10.2015
- Operated food-production machinery, enhancing efficiency in slicing, dicing, and chopping processes.
- Prepared and cooked vegetables, sauces, and production mixes to meet quality standards and production schedules.
- Worked safely as part of a production team and supported continuous improvement in health, safety and environmental standards.
- Followed personal safety, food safety, hygiene and product-identification requirements.
- Reported food safety or product quality risks to management for immediate action.
- Applied correct colour-code and part-code labelling on food containers to ensure compliance with safety and quality regulations.
- Cleaned machinery between products and supported product changeovers.
Education
Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College
Southall01-2014
Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College
Southall01-2011
Veraval Boys High School
Gujarat01-2009
Skills
- Team leadership & coaching Production experience KPI awareness GMP & HACCP CCP controls Environmental monitoring Root cause analysis Customer complaints Supply chain traceability Audit support Training colleagues Problem solving Continuous improvement Communication Health & Safety
- Team leadership Communication Organisational skills Computer skills Multitasking Problem solving Willingness to learn
- Multitasking
- Computer skills
- Willingness to learn
- Health & Safety
- Writing reports
- Document control
REFERENCES
Available on request.
SECTION LEADER – WHAT I WOULD BRING
- People: clear communication, coaching and leading by example.
- Safety & quality: strong understanding of GMP, CCPs, HACCP and food-safety controls.
- Production: six years of hands-on production experience plus Process Controller and Quality Auditor experience.
- Performance: understanding of KPIs, production control, waste prevention, downtime and the importance of accurate records.
- Problem solving: experienced in investigations, complaints, environmental monitoring and corrective actions.
- Teamwork: experienced working across Production, Quality and Hygiene and supporting colleagues during audits and busy periods.
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
- Food Safety Level 2
- Metal Detection Workshop
- Weight & Count Control Workshop
Timeline
QUALITY AUDITOR
GREENCORE / BAKKAVOR
09.2022 - 03.2023
SEMI-SKILLED OPERATIVE
BAKKAVOR
02.2021 - 03.2023
AIRPORT TECHNICIAN
ESP GLOBAL SERVICES, HEATHROW TERMINAL 5
05.2019 - 10.2020
CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT
OMNISERV / ABM, HEATHROW TERMINAL 3
07.2018 - 05.2019
PROCESS CONTROLLER
BAKKAVOR
03.2016 - 05.2018
PRODUCTION OPERATIVE
BAKKAVOR
02.2012 - 10.2015
Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College
Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College
Veraval Boys High School