Meet Annalicia, 1st Shift Production Manager
At Harris Spice, our success is built on the hard work and dedication of our fantastic team. From our research and development team to our sales staff, everyone plays a role in making sure we provide top-notch spices and herbs to our customers. Teamwork and commitment are what keep us going strong. In our new "Employee Spotlight" series, we're excited to introduce you to some of the incredible people who make up our Harris Spice family.
Describe your path to working in production at Harris Spice. What’s your background?
As most other people, being a young adult in a world of endless possibilities can leave a seemingly indecisive youngin to try many things, one of those things was working at a food manufacturing/packaging plant. I fell in love with the fast-paced environment, the machinery, the constant need to meet a standard set by the machines, goals, etc. at a pace out of one's control. I absorbed as much operational & technical knowledge as I could expose myself to. I soon became a top performer which blessed me with opportunities to collaborate with many leaders within the organization which is where I found driving inspiration. The effect that these leaders have had on me is the same effect I want to deliver to my team. My goal is to inspire, teach and empower those around me. Harris Spice is a golden opportunity to thrive these areas. I am grateful for the opportunity to build on an established team.
What does a typical day in production look like for you?
A typical day in production starts with communication and a smile. We start the day with a team huddle to communicate the daily/weekly plan/goal and share different kinds of information. Ex. - safety, quality, food safety etc. Collaboration is key even within the same department. The team is dedicated to delivering quality product on everything we do.
How do you ensure product consistency and quality on the production line?
Ensuring product consistency and quality on the production line at our herbal manufacturing plant involves several key practices. We start by sourcing high-quality raw materials from trusted suppliers, conducting thorough inspections to verify their purity and potency. Our production processes are standardized and meticulously documented, allowing us to maintain consistent procedures across batches. We utilize state-of-the-art equipment and regularly calibrate it to ensure precise measurements and operations. Quality control checks are conducted at every stage of production, including in-process testing and final product inspections. Additionally, we adhere to stringent Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and regularly train our staff to uphold these standards. This comprehensive approach ensures that each product meets our high-quality standards and delivers the intended benefits to our customers.
What strategies do you use to manage and motivate your production team?
Getting to know your team or your audience is a useful tool. There is a plethora of different methods that can and should be tailored to individual situations and persons. Some pillars of any successful and motivated team are as follows; communication, standardization, follow up/through, patience and understanding. A team becomes most motivated when they are knowledgeable and given the opportunity to use that knowledge for betterment of the day, team, company. This is what we strive for every day.
What has been your most challenging project, and how did you handle it?
Every worthwhile project is challenging. Improvement projects are, effectively, challenging a challenge that the organization wants to improve on or eliminate. Each project will, and should, be more challenging than the last. With that, my most challenging project is building a stellar team. Building a team is a never-ending project. Whether it's increasing the size of the team, to continuous improvement training, to pushing that team to meet or exceed consistently growing goals and expectations, in such an ever-growing industry, change and optimization are essential to long-term success.
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Don't forget to take a look at our other articles on sustainability and spice industry trends to stay up to date with the latest developments.
