Kantharupan Thumakandan
London
Summary
Detail-oriented and flexible food technologist with 2 years of hands-on experience in New product/process development and Quality assurance. Possesses good analytical and problem-solving skills to deliver innovative solutions with sound knowledge of food science and technology. Demonstrates expertise in GMP, HACCP, Quality Management Systems, and Lean manufacturing practices who is passionate about driving a culture of quality assurance excellence within the organization.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Process Technologist
Bakkavor
02.2023 - Current
- Executing trials aligned with Bakkavor and retailer specifications ( M&S, Waitrose, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s) ensuring the successful development of new processes and product improvements.
- Planning and organizing resources to ensure the timely delivery of trials, working within project timelines and ensuring efficient trial execution.
- Collaborating with New Product Development and Operations teams to define quality attributes for raw materials, work-in-progress, assembly, and finished products, ensuring adherence to operational capabilities.
- Conducting process validation of factory equipment, ensuring compliance with site due diligence and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinating and submitting product samples for microbiological tests, Nutritional test, organoleptic evaluations, and transit trials, to support product quality and safety standards.
- Documenting and analysing trial data to assess process capabilities, ensuring comprehensive records for future review and due diligence.
Quality and R&D Executive
SMR Consolidated
03.2022 - 12.2022
- Prepared coconut oil and margarine samples adhering to procedures and standards to ensure the quality, safety and legality of the end products.
- Ensured that lab tests including microbiological, organoleptic, and chemical analysis, were conducted within the established schedule.
- Developed HACCP plans and monitored CCPs in the production line to verify all processes and procedures met the food safety standards.
- Provided technical assistance to New product development projects and maintained detailed records on product specifications, product manuals and product development progress reports.
- Collaborated with production team in continuous improvement projects and improved process efficiency by using quality control tools resulting in a 9.3% reduction in packaging material defects.
- Conducted internal audits to ensure compliance with Quality Management Systems (BRC, FSSC 22000) and GMPs.
- Conducted root cause analysis on quality-related customer complaints and implemented corrective actions, resulting in a 12.5% reduction in customer complaints.
Supply chain intern
Coca cola beverages
07.2021 - 10.2021
- Conducted raw material and packaging material checks to confirm all products adhere to specifications.
- Performed quality checks on finished products and verified finished product labels following SOPs.
- Reviewed documents and maintained accurate record-keeping in compliance with Coca-Cola Operating Requirements (KORE).
- Implemented corrective actions to reduce supplier quality issues through close collaboration and vendor evaluation.
- Facilitated line manager in improving technical KPIs and contributed to syrup yield improvement project by suggesting process enhancements resulting in 33.3% reduction in Syrup loss.
Education
MSc - Food safety and quality management
University of Greenwich
BSc - Food science and technology
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Analytical skills
- Laboratory skills
- Microsoft office
- Quality management systems
- Process validation
Certification
- HACCP Level 3
- Lean six sigma yellow belt
Timeline
Process Technologist
Bakkavor
02.2023 - Current
Quality and R&D Executive
SMR Consolidated
03.2022 - 12.2022
Supply chain intern
Coca cola beverages
07.2021 - 10.2021
BSc - Food science and technology
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
MSc - Food safety and quality management
University of Greenwich
Similar Profiles
Corina Elena IacobCorina Elena Iacob
Hygiene Operation Team Leader at BakkavorHygiene Operation Team Leader at Bakkavor
Jordan IvattJordan Ivatt
Engineering apprentice at BakkavorEngineering apprentice at Bakkavor
Konrad MrozKonrad Mroz
Manufacturing technician at BakkavorManufacturing technician at Bakkavor
Scott AlfordScott Alford
Print room, relief section leader at BakkavorPrint room, relief section leader at Bakkavor
Aaliyah JosephAaliyah Joseph
Retail supervisor at ScribblerRetail supervisor at Scribbler