Alison Macduff

Outline

Responsible for coordinating and supporting quality operations, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, regulatory standards, and internal quality management systems.

Key responsibilities:

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor trained, with experience supporting and conducting audits, managing corrective actions, and driving improvements within quality systems.
• Managing customer and consumer complaints from investigation through to resolution, including root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventative measures.
• Conducting and supporting internal audits against quality management systems, GMP requirements, and company procedures.
• Supporting customer and regulatory audits (including BRCGS), ensuring audit readiness, documentation control, and completion of follow-up actions.
• Managing GMP audit systems, HACCP systems, and CAPA processes.
• Providing supervisory support, training, and guidance to colleagues while maintaining quality standards.
• Working collaboratively with production, technical, and laboratory teams to investigate quality issues and implement improvements.
• Providing laboratory cover and supporting quality testing activities.

Outline

Responsible for the testing of Evans Vanodine products at each stage of the production process. Using techniques including titrations, pH testing, viscosity checks, specific gravity and refractive index tests.

Key responsibilities:

• Analysis of samples, following written methods and recording of results in an accurate manner.
• Awareness and adherence to GMP for applicable products.
• Conducting audits on filling lines to ensure high quality filling and packing of all products.
• Assisting with customer complaints.
• Assisting with recording and investigating non-conformances for out of specification results and processes.
• Investigating out of specification results including root cause analysis.
• Liaising with R&D to test new formulations.
• Working as part of a team of technicians and individually when required.
• Booking in and analysis of raw materials.
• Ordering laboratory chemicals and equipment for the technical department, creating and updating spreadsheets.
• Support and training of staff .
• Conducting calibrations of laboratory equipment.
• Use of computer software including Excel and LIMS.

Outline

Supporting the science department by setting up experiments for chemistry,biology and physics. Ensuring smooth running of the prep room on a daily basis.

Key responsibilities:

• Liaising with science lecturers to develop new and existing practicals.
• Preparing microbiology equipment using aseptic techniques.
• Reagent preparation, complying with health and safety regulations. (CLEAPSS, COSHH)
• Disposing of microbes and contaminated equipment using an autoclave.
• Updating and creating stock lists for chemicals and equipment using Excel spreadsheets.
• Testing and trialling experiments.
• Working as part of a team and as an individual when managing the prep room.
• Using maths equations to work out volumes and masses required for preparing chemicals.
• Maintaining a clean and tidy workplace at all times.
• Helping the college outside of the science department. In Jan 2021 I was redeployed to the college's COVID testing centre where I worked as a test processor.
• Providing scientific advice to lecturers and students when needed.
• Carrying out specialist experiments including gel electrophoresis, PCR and DNA extraction.
• Creating and updating departmental risk assessments and SOPs.

Outline

In 2016 I completed a week of work experience at the University of Manchester in the Electrochemistry Research group. As part of a Faraday project, electrochemically exfoliated graphene was prepared and used in coin cells to make supercapacitors. After fabrication the cells were characterised using scanned probe techniques and electrochemistry. I was not only shadowing but also gained some hands-on experience and had the opportunity to understand the stages of a research project.