Smirk’s Quality Assurance EP 15

In Episode 15 of Get the Scoop with Smirks, Elisa Louis shares the Smirk’s team commitment to Quality Assurance (QA).  As a leading supplier of conventional and organic ingredients, Smirk’s relies on the QA team to uphold the highest standards in food safety and quality, ensuring trusted partnerships with both suppliers and customers. This episode features QA Director Tara Hettinger, Operations Manager Garrett McBride, and QA team members Danielle Duff and Kelsey Malone, who share their experiences and perspectives on the vital work they do every day.

The Foundation of Quality Assurance at Smirks

Tara Hettinger, who leads the QA team, outlines how their mission extends beyond simply meeting food safety standards; they strive to build strong, transparent partnerships. Smirks manages an astonishing 60,000 supplier documents, which include detailed quality and food safety certifications, and ensures every piece aligns with their rigorous standards.

The QA team prioritizes transparency, a core value that sets Smirk’s apart in the industry. As Tara noted, they are meticulous in vetting suppliers to ensure customers receive reliable, high-quality ingredients. She explains that being detailed and organized means the team can respond to customer needs efficiently, especially during audits or urgent requests,” she added.

On-Site Visits: A Hands-On Approach to Quality

Garrett McBride shared his passion for supplier site visits, which he described as both rewarding and essential. Known within Smirk’s as the "food safety and quality assurance boogeyman," Garrett explained how these visits allow him to verify supplier practices and identify any risks that might not appear in paperwork.

During these visits, Garrett scrutinizes everything from pest control measures to process documentation, ensuring suppliers meet Smirks' high standards. These face-to-face interactions build reliable partnerships, allow us to verify their practices which ensures we can trust the folks we choose to do business with.

Garrett also highlighted the sheer scale of Smirks’ operations, with 130 items sourced from 180 suppliers across 27 countries. This level of oversight requires a collaborative effort, making the QA team's diligence critical to the company's success.

Meet the People Behind the QA Process

Danielle Duff and Kelsey Malone shared their personal journeys and how their backgrounds shaped their roles at Smirks. Danielle, a food science graduate, is passionate about food safety and nutrition. She described how her family’s tradition of canning and growing food inspired her love for food science. Her meticulous approach helps ensure the quality and safety of Smirks’ products, which she sees as a direct way to protect consumers.

Kelsey Malone, who transitioned from healthcare to QA, talked about the steep learning curve when she joined Smirks. Initially an administrative assistant, Kelsey quickly embraced the complexity of QA processes and found satisfaction in tackling detailed documentation to ensure quality standards are met. 

The dedication and passion of Danielle and Kelsey underscore Smirks’ commitment to quality and transparency. 

The Smirks QA team revealed the immense effort that goes into ensuring food safety and building trust with customers and suppliers. Tara discussed the challenges of the job, explaining that even with rigorous processes, unexpected issues can arise. Mitigating risks and documentation may seem boring but the team finds the work rewarding knowing that they are protecting their customers and ultimately the end consumers. 

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