Astin Kuswayo
Quality Control Inspector
Kakamas,Northern
Summary
Focused Quality Controller with +-3 years of experience conducting testing to facilitate quality and condition results. Possesses superior product knowledge to train and educate staff while maintaining optimal product storage and efficiency. Builds and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external customers. Top-notch Inspector with solid background in evaluating and inspecting wide range of agricultural products. Offers strong understanding of industry standards and regulations. Collaborative and committed to accurate and efficient work.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Quality Controller
ACG FRUIT Galactic Deals
11.2023 - 02.2024
- Activities/duties: Record shelf life inspections (retention), Recording of daily quality checks, Complete/import quality data/forms, Check the quality of the fruit throughout, Complete quality records, Conduct internal quality tests of the product, Check the colour towards the colour charts, Report deviations of quality to the packhouse manager/Quality manager, Report any non-conformance to the Quality manager/ Packhouse manager, Exercise Corrective Action when needed, Supervising line workers, Completing records and filed, Monitoring temperature, scales, and hygiene, Helping with logistics, dispatch to cold storage rooms/facilities, Assisting PPECB with their inspection, Assisting with stock control, traceability and recall mock exercise
Quality Junior Inspector
Perishable Product Export Control Board
Citrusdal
06.2024 - Current
- Activities/duties: Practical and Theoretical experience of perishable products, Completed (AETP) Agricultural Export Technologist Programme, Completion of Portfolio of Evidence of the following products (Table grapes, All Citrus, Pomegranate, Fresh Dates, Dried Fruits), Knowledge of the PPECB and the Perishable Export Industry, Knowledge of export legislation, Product inspection skills (including the use of technical equipment handling)
- Responsibilities :
- Manage packhouse teams to ensure all products meet quality standards and requirements for export goods.
- Implement and maintain quality control systems and process.
- Conduct regularly, randomly inspections on Agricultural Products and test internal qualities.
- Ensure all Agricultural Products meet specifications and compliance requirements for export.
-Identify and troubleshoot quality issues and liaise with the packhouse manager and chief inspector so that they can implement corrective actions.
-Continously improve QC processes to enhance efficiency and Agricultural Product quality.
-Provide guidance and support to production teams to address any quality-related issues.
-Maintain, report and upload accurate and detailed records of quality qontrol activities and findings.
-Prepare and present regular report on quality control metrics and findings.
-Train, mentor and supervise QC staff of the packhouse and AETP students of PPECB to ensure a high level of competence and performance.
-Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards regulatory requirements and customers specifications (DALLRD, CRI,PPECB,HORTGO, etc...)
- Stay updated on industry news
-Work closely with the packhouses to understand their quality requirements and ensure these are met.
-Ensure the availability and proper use of QC tools and resources (sizing rings, calibers, refractor meter and etc...)
-Reporting phytosanitary pest found during inspections to the relevant authorities and personnel.
- Able to identify phytosanitary pest such as FCM, FF and mealybugs
-Ensure MRL sample for pesticides residue are drawn and analyzing qc test results and providing timeously feedback and interpretation to packhouse and chief inspector.
-Ensure accurate and compliance to box end labels as per marking requirements and customers.
-Ensure to update and refresh phytclean data for specific PUC and M12.
-Ensure that all standards and requirements are assessed and non-conformance clearly raised with respective packhouses , ensure that all corrective actions and process controls are validated for effectiveness on non-conformance closed-out.
-Ensure all procedures in the operations department are followed according to policies and procedures and that all required records are completed accurately and timeously.
-Ensure that final product quality complies to regulation to eliminate pallet rejections and Quality comebacks.
Quality Junior Inspector
PPECB
04.2023 - 08.2023
- Activities/duties: Practical and Theoretical experience of perishable products, Completed (AETP) Agricultural Export Technologist Programme, Completion of Portfolio of Evidence of the following products (Table grapes, All Citrus, Pomegranate, Fresh Dates, Dried Fruits), Knowledge of the PPECB and the Perishable Export Industry, Knowledge of export legislation, Product inspection skills (including the use of technical equipment handling)
- Responsibilities :
- Manage packhouse teams to ensure all products meet quality standards and requirements for export goods.
- Implement and maintain quality control systems and process.
- Conduct regularly, randomly inspections on Agricultural Products and test internal qualities.
- Ensure all Agricultural Products meet specifications and compliance requirements for export.
-Identify and troubleshoot quality issues and liaise with the packhouse manager and chief inspector so that they can implement corrective actions.
-Continously improve QC processes to enhance efficiency and Agricultural Product quality.
-Provide guidance and support to production teams to address any quality-related issues.
-Maintain, report and upload accurate and detailed records of quality qontrol activities and findings.
-Prepare and present regular report on quality control metrics and findings.
-Train, mentor and supervise QC staff of the packhouse and AETP students of PPECB to ensure a high level of competence and performance.
-Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards regulatory requirements and customers specifications (DALLRD, CRI,PPECB,HORTGO, etc...)
- Stay updated on industry news
-Work closely with the packhouses to understand their quality requirements and ensure these are met.
-Ensure the availability and proper use of QC tools and resources (sizing rings, calibers, refractor meter and etc...)
-Reporting phytosanitary pest found during inspections to the relevant authorities and personnel.
- Able to identify phytosanitary pest such as FCM, FF and mealybugs
-Ensure MRL sample for pesticides residue are drawn and analyzing qc test results and providing timeously feedback and interpretation to packhouse and chief inspector.
-Ensure accurate and compliance to box end labels as per marking requirements and customers.
-Ensure to update and refresh phytclean data for specific PUC and M12.
-Ensure that all standards and requirements are assessed and non-conformance clearly raised with respective packhouses , ensure that all corrective actions and process controls are validated for effectiveness on non-conformance closed-out.
-Ensure all procedures in the operations department are followed according to policies and procedures and that all required records are completed accurately and timeously.
-Ensure that final product quality complies to regulation to eliminate pallet rejections and Quality comebacks.
Agri Export Technologist (Learnership)
PPECB
04.2022 - 03.2023
- Activities/duties: On-the Job training for inspection on various product, Products include (Citrus, Raisins, Pomegranate, Table Grapes and Dates), Food safety and Quality Control practices apply and attended theoretical training, Assisting PPECB inspectors with their inspections, Assisted with Administrative task at the office, Sampling of product samples and dispatching to various accredited laboratories, Building and keeping relationships with clients and suppliers, Manage office most of the time, Report any non-conformance to Chief Inspector
Teaching Assistant
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
02.2022 - 03.2022
- Activities/duties: Assist teaching staff in preparation of lectures, teaching in class and other teaching-related tasks
Quality Controller
Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT)
12.2021 - 02.2022
- Activities/duties: Record shelf life inspections (retention), Recording of daily quality checks, Complete/import quality data/forms, Check the quality of the fruit throughout, Complete quality records, Conduct internal quality tests of the product, Check the colour towards the colour charts, Report deviations of quality to the packhouse manager/Quality manager, Report any non-conformance to the Quality manager/ Packhouse manager, Exercise Corrective Action when needed, Supervising line workers, Completing records and filed, Monitoring temperature, scales, and hygiene, Helping with logistics, dispatch to cold storage rooms/facilities, Assisting PPECB with their inspection
Quality Controller (student intern)
Alpen Food Company
09.2021 - 11.2021
- Activities/duties: Biscuits cereal batch approvals, Monitoring oven temperature, Daily GMP, hygiene checks, Internal quality check of biscuits-moisture content, Receiving and accepting incoming raw material, packaging and wheat as well as chemicals, Inspecting Retention samples, Completing and filling signed off records, Monitoring and testing metal detectors and x-ray machine, Do quality check on the final product
Quality Controller
Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT)
11.2020 - 02.2021
- Activities: Constantly quality checks, Supervising line workers, Completing records and filed, Monitoring temperature, scales, and hygiene, Helping with logistics, Assisting PPECB with their inspection
Packaging and Stock
Liefland Boerdery
11.2019 - 12.2019
- Activities: Controlling of incoming stock and dispatching packaging into the packhouse, using the FIFO method, Counting stock and report to management, Receiving and accepting packaging material
Quality Controller
Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT)
11.2018 - 02.2019
- Activities: Constantly quality checks, Supervising line workers, Completing records and filed, Monitoring temperature, scales, and hygiene, Assisting PPECB with their inspection
General Worker
Satellite TV Service
02.2017 - 07.2017
- Activities: Daily stock control, General admin, Handle customer complaints
General Worker
Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT)
11.2016 - 02.2017
- Activities: General agriculture related work
Education
National Certificate: Perishable Product Technology - undefined
CVS Colleges
01.2022 - 05.2023
Diploma: Consumer Science in Food & Nutrition - undefined
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
01.2018 - 05.2021
Certificate: Facilitative Leadership - undefined
Stellenbosch University
01.2021 - 05.2021
Certificate: First Aid Level 1 - undefined
The First Aid Academy
01.2019 - 05.2019
National Senior Certificate - undefined
Kakamas High School
01.2016 - 05.2016
Skills
Tool use and calibration
Leadershipandachievements
- 2023-01-01, Competence certificate: Citrus Inspection at PPECB
- 2022-01-01, Class Representative - Advance Diploma: Consumer Science in Food & Nutrition (selected)
- 2021-01-01, Class Representative – 3rd Year Consumer Science Food & Nutrition (nominated)
- 2021-01-01, Certificate in Reading Quiz : Faculty of Applied Science, CPUT (awarded)
- 2021-01-01, Civic Engagement Unit (CPUT): Community Project Leadership (awarded)
- 2020-01-01, CPUT Student Y Committee Member (selected)
- 2019-01-01, First Aid (level 1) Certificate (awarded)
Personal Information
ID Number: 9803185292081
References
- Mrs Hilda Joubert, System, Inventory and QC manager, Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT), 071 357 1642, hilda@acgfruit.com
- Mr Edwill Oppel, Chief Inspector, Perishable Product Export Control Board, Operations, 082 493 9811, edwillo@ppecb.com
- Mr W C Clarence, Lecturer, Programme Consumer Science: Food and Nutrition, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 021 460 9074, clarencew@cput.ac.za
- Ms. F Hlomza / A Feni, Technical Manager, Alpen Food Company, 021 506 3240 / 079 890 3407, feziwe@alpenfood.co.za / aviwef@alpenfood.co.za
- Mr R Walker, Director, Student Y Organization, 083 254 2887, robwalker.walkers@gmail.com
- Ms C Walters, Systems and Accreditations Co-Ordinator, Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT), 054 495 0188, celia@acgfruit.com / julize@acgfruit.com
- Mr H J van der Merwe, Production manager, Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT), 054 495 0188, HJ@acgfruit.com
- Mr A Van Zyl, Owner, Liefland Boerdery, 079 108 7166 or 082 781 1463, lieflandboerdery@gmail.com
- Ms/Mrs C Coetzee, Quality and System manager, Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT), 076 967 1087, chantellec@acgfruit.com
- Mrs M Crafford, Owner/Manager, Satellite TV Service, 054 431 137, admin@stse.co.za
- Mrs E Kasimbinque, Acting Principal, Kakamas High School, 054 431 0768
Timeline
Quality Junior Inspector
Perishable Product Export Control Board
06.2024 - Current
Senior Quality Controller
ACG FRUIT Galactic Deals
11.2023 - 02.2024
Quality Junior Inspector
PPECB
04.2023 - 08.2023
Agri Export Technologist (Learnership)
PPECB
04.2022 - 03.2023
Teaching Assistant
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
02.2022 - 03.2022
National Certificate: Perishable Product Technology - undefined
CVS Colleges
01.2022 - 05.2023
Quality Controller
Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT)
12.2021 - 02.2022
Quality Controller (student intern)
Alpen Food Company
09.2021 - 11.2021
Certificate: Facilitative Leadership - undefined
Stellenbosch University
01.2021 - 05.2021
Quality Controller
Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT)
11.2020 - 02.2021
Packaging and Stock
Liefland Boerdery
11.2019 - 12.2019
Certificate: First Aid Level 1 - undefined
The First Aid Academy
01.2019 - 05.2019
Quality Controller
Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT)
11.2018 - 02.2019
Diploma: Consumer Science in Food & Nutrition - undefined
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
01.2018 - 05.2021
General Worker
Satellite TV Service
02.2017 - 07.2017
General Worker
Galactic Deals (ACG FRUIT)
11.2016 - 02.2017
National Senior Certificate - undefined
Kakamas High School
01.2016 - 05.2016
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