Melanie Wong
Working as: FOOD TECHNOLOGIST / QA MANAGER for ANZCO Foods Green Island.
A day in the life of a Food Technologist
The ANZCO Foods Green Island plant specialises in the development of meat products such as meat patties under the Angel Bay brand. Japan is their largest export market, with a large portion of product also being sold in Australia and domestically.
Melanie has been working at ANZCO Foods Green Island since finishing university in 2002, first working on product development, and then adding quality assurance a year and a half later. She reports to plant manager, Henry Wilson, and works with a variety of other departments including marketing, research and development, and engineering.
Melanie's love of food technology began relatively early. "I always liked science at school, but I wanted to apply it to a more hands on area." She adds half jokingly, "Also, I love food so it was right up my alley."
After finishing school, Melanie went on to complete a four-year Food Technology degree at Massey University in Palmerston North. This course had a wide subject scope and is particularly hands-on with industry training a key component. The course structure guarantees that Melanie already had relevant experience on completion of her degree.
Earlier this year, Melanie became an ambassador for Futureintech, a scheme that brings technologists, engineers and scientists together with teachers and students. "Futureintech was designed to bring real world applications and experience into the classroom. It also gives teachers extra resources in scientific and technical areas," Melanie explains, "It's a great opportunity to give something back and encourage more students to get into the food industry - getting more skilled people in the industry and driving growth. We need more females in the meat industry too!"
Daily challenges...
 One of the most significant challenges Melanie addresses day-to-day is balancing what the client wants with the plant's scope and quality assurance requirements. "Particularly in this area, communication skills are essential. Being an export plant we have to deal with offshore markets, so we need to be able to communicate to our clients what's going on in the plant, and how that fits with their requirements," she explains.
" It's definitely a juggling act. To add to that, the meat industry has far more compliance issues than the rest of the food sector; this is a big hurdle in New Product Development."
" You really need good time-management skills. Problem solving is a major requirement, so being creative and finding solutions is important. Finally, good teamwork skills are a must. My job involves working in a team environment which I enjoy, there's plenty of interaction with a wide variety of other departments."
...and rewards
Meeting these challenges is the most rewarding aspect of the job, Melanie says, "Making a product work with the available resources - developing a product which fits within the plant's production and quality assurance scope, that moment when everything clicks into place - I call that the eureka light bulb moment."
(Profile courtesy of Food New Zealand).
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Real people talk about their jobs in food science, technology & engineering (courtesy of Futureintech: www.futureintech.com):
  Simon Loveday, Food Research Scientist for The Riddet Institute, Palmerston North.
 Wendy Robinson, Senior Food Technologist for NZ's largest ice cream manufacturer, Tip Top Ice-Cream, Auckland.
 Harriet Gibbs, Process Manager for multinational dairy processor Fonterra, Edendale, Southland.
 Bronwyn Hawker, Food Technologist with innovative beverage manufacturer Frucor, Auckland.
 Michelle Lucke, Process Improvement Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer, Heinz Watties, Tomoana, Hastings.
 Ben Sutherland, Product Development Technologist for healthy snack manufacturer Mother Earth Foods, Auckland.
 Anna Smith, Development Technologist for milk and dairy foods processor Fonterra Brands NZ.
 Melanie Wong, Food technologist/QA Manager for meat processor and exporter ANZCO Foods Green Island, near Dunedin.
 Rachel Johns, Product Development Technologist for iconic prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.
 John Evans, Operations Manager for drinks manufacturer Phoenix Organics, Auckland.
 Penny Hosking, Technical Manager for buttercup squash processor and exporter Southmark Quality Foods, Hastings.
 Emily Choi, Product Development Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.
 Tracey Petley-Hibbs, Process Technologist for sweetmaker, Nestlé Confectionery, Auckland.
 Andrew Hutton, Product Development Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.
 Debbie Curtis, Chocolate Technologist for international chocolatemaker, Cadbury, Dunedin.
 Jonelle Taylor, Senior Product Development Technologist for Fresh 'n' Fruity yoghurt manufacturer Fonterra Brands, Auckland.
 Yvette Temple, Senior Product Developer for biscuit manufacturer Griffins, Auckland.
More profiles of careers in food technology at Futureintech: www.futureintech.com. | |
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