Quality Control Associate Jobs in Kankakee, IL (NOW HIRING)

Quality Control Inspector – Food Manufacturing
$20.00/hr | Crete / Chicago Heights area, IL
Employer: Kelly Services
Job Type: Full-time, Temp-to-Hire Opportunity
Assignment Path: Approximately 3–6 months before possible hire-on
Shift: Monday–Friday | 6:00 AM–4:00 PM
Overtime: Alternating Saturday coverage may be required
Start: After interview, screening, onboarding, and clearance
From the Desk of the Recruiter
Kelly Services is hiring for a Quality Control Inspector role inside a food-manufacturing facility in the Crete / Chicago Heights area.
This is not a basic production role. This position is for someone who understands food quality, food safety, GMP expectations, documentation, product checks, and what it means to stop or hold product when something is not right.
The right candidate should be comfortable walking the production floor, inspecting product, checking labels and codes, reviewing weights, verifying metal detector checks, supporting allergen changeover inspections, and enforcing food-safety rules with confidence and professionalism.
This role is best for someone who already has direct quality experience and wants a long-term opportunity where they can grow.
Job Details
Pay: $20.00/hr
Location: Crete / Chicago Heights area, IL
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 6:00 AM–4:00 PM
Saturday Coverage: Alternating Saturday coverage may be required
Type: Temp-to-hire through Kelly Services
Hire-On Path: Possible after approximately 3–6 months, based on attendance, quality of work, performance, attitude, and business need
Environment: Food manufacturing, production floor, quality-control, documentation, and inspection setting
What You’ll Do
Inspect production lines for food-quality and food-safety requirements
Check product net weights, seal integrity, label accuracy, code dates, and package condition
Perform and verify metal detector checks
Conduct allergen changeover inspections after required water washes
Complete batch checks in the company system
Write investigation reports when quality or food-safety incidents occur
Place product on hold when quality or food-safety concerns are found
Help manage the hold-and-release process for product that needs review
Support environmental monitoring inside the facility
Provide COAs, send product out for testing, or complete in-house testing when required
Help maintain and review quality documentation
Cover quality responsibilities in nearby departments or locations when needed
Lift up to approximately 50–60 lbs when required
Complete assigned duties in a timely and accurate manner
GMP and Food-Safety Enforcement
This person must be willing to follow and help enforce GMP rules on the production floor.
That may include monitoring:
Hair nets and beard nets
Company-issued uniforms
Personal cleanliness
No jewelry
No nail polish
No eating or drinking on the production floor
No sitting, standing, or sleeping on product
Proper employee behavior around food, packaging, and production areas
This role requires confidence. You may need to professionally correct employees, document concerns, and escalate issues when food safety or product quality is at risk.
What the Work Is Really Like
This position requires focus, confidence, and follow-through.
You should be comfortable with:
Walking the production floor throughout the day
Watching small details that other people may miss
Speaking up when something is wrong
Writing clear reports and documentation
Working around food-production equipment and active production lines
Handling pressure when product must be placed on hold
Staying organized with batch checks, testing, and paperwork
Following strict GMP and food-safety rules every shift
This is a good fit for someone who takes quality seriously and understands that small mistakes can affect product safety, customer trust, and production flow.
What We’re Looking For
Strong candidates should have:
1.5+ years of recent direct quality-control or quality-inspection experience
Recent food manufacturing quality experience strongly preferred
Stable recent work history with limited or no major gaps preferred
Experience with GMP, HACCP, allergen control, line checks, product holds, documentation, or food-safety inspections
Ability to inspect labels, seals, weights, code dates, packaging, and product condition
Strong written communication for reports and documentation
Confidence enforcing floor rules professionally
Comfort using computer systems for batch checks or quality records
Ability to lift up to approximately 50–60 lbs when needed
Associate degree or higher preferred
This is not the best fit for someone who only has general production experience and no direct quality background.
Attendance Expectations
Attendance is extremely important.
Candidates should be prepared for:
No missed days during the first 30 days
No late starts during the first 30 days
No early departures during the first 30 days
Strong communication if an emergency occurs
Saturday coverage when assigned
Attendance, communication, food-safety judgment, documentation, and professionalism all affect assignment continuation and hire-on consideration.
Pre-Employment Requirements
Selected candidates must complete:
Kelly Services prescreen
Resume review
Possible client interview
Background screening
Drug screening
Kelly Services onboarding
I-9 employment verification
Candidates cannot start until all required screening and onboarding steps are complete.
Why This Role Matters
A Quality Control Inspector helps protect the customer, the product, and the entire production operation.
This person checks that food products are packed correctly, labeled correctly, sealed properly, documented accurately, and handled safely. When a quality issue happens, this person helps identify it, document it, place product on hold, and support the next step.
The right person can build a strong reputation here by being accurate, dependable, calm under pressure, and serious about food safety.
How to Apply
For a faster response, text our recruiters the code “QCFD” at 847-729-2575.
Please include:
QCFD | First + Last Name | Crete / Chicago Heights | Answers to the 3 questions below
3 Quick Questions
Do you have at least 1.5 years of recent direct quality-control or food-quality inspection experience?
What quality checks have you performed before: weights, labels, code dates, metal detector checks, COAs, holds, allergen checks, batch records, or GMP audits?
Can you work Monday–Friday, 6:00 AM–4:00 PM, with alternating Saturday coverage when required?