Quality Engineer

Principal Activities/Objectives

• Supplier – Works with the Purchasing Dept. to identify suitable suppliers for Amsted Rail products. Coordinates the development of product specifications and requirements with Amsted Rail Engineering departments.  Communicates all requirements to the suppliers, tracks component development progress and coordinates the assessment of the products at Amsted Rail.  Tracks supplier issues and ensures corrective actions are taken when necessary.
• Auditing – Manages the internal audit program for Amsted Rail and QBS. Ensures that departments and plants are audited on an established frequency to meet ISO and AAR  Determines areas of nonconformance and ensures corrective actions are implemented.  Ensures that Amsted Rail has a suitable pool of qualified auditors to assist with audits when necessary.  Conducts supplier audits/assessments as necessary to ensure suppliers are capable of meeting Amsted Rail requirements.
• Production Assistance – Assists in resolving quality issues related to product or process. Conducts gage or process studies as required.
• Customer – Communicates with customers as necessary on quality related issues.
• Corrective Action – Manages the corrective action system for Amsted Rail. Works with the various departments to ensure those corrective actions are effective.  Maintains the corporate database, communicates issues to all appropriate areas, tracks progress towards resolution and ensures that customers are informed of final resolution
• Document Administration – Writes, edits and/or revises all work instructions, procedures, quality standards and quality policies. Maintains document control system for Amsted Rail, Inc.
• Quality Systems and Standards – Ensures that Amsted Rail maintains compliance to all external (ISO, AAR, and customer) requirements and that personnel at Amsted Rail understand those industry requirements.
• Product – Assists Product Engineering in the development of FMEAs and reviews product specifications as necessary with the Dir. of Quality

Nature and Scope

The Quality Engineer reports directly to the Works Manager.  The individual is involved in all stages of product development and manufacturing and interacts with all areas within Amsted Rail.  The individual must have an overall understanding of all operations of the company.  The job requires technical and human relation skills in addition to managerial skills.

Know-How and Skills

• Bachelor Degree in Science or Engineering preferred
• Auditor Certification – Registrar Accreditation Board or American Society of Quality
• Certified Quality Engineer Body of Knowledge – American Society of Quality

• Quality Management Concepts
• Quality Costs
• Inspection and Testing
• Metrology and Calibration
• Statistical Methods
• Reliability and Maintainability
• Human Resources
• Bearing design and application requirements
• Fundamentals of Amsted Rail processing and QBS inspection systems
• Quality Standard Requirements (ISO, AAR, QS)

Problem Solving

The Quality Assurance Engineer is required to conduct independent assessments of Amsted Rail suppliers and Amsted Rail/QBS operations.  The person must also be able to conduct or coordinate through other departments the testing of components to ensure that specifications are met.  Typical problem resolutions involve the use of both soft people skills (managerial) as well as problem analysis and hard technical skills.  A standard problem resolution is the suitability of a product for use by Amsted Rail or if a system if adequate to ensure that suitable product is produced.

Accountability

• Develop and demonstrate an in-depth and thorough knowledge of process improvement using manufacturing operating systems such as Chart runner, SAP and Phoenix.  Using these various systems to manage, distribute, qualify and track all training documents.
• Serves as a critical catalyst in creating a continuous improvement culture by collecting and analyzing data form MRS, SAP, Phoenix and Chart Runner.  Using Chart runner to display data in visual chart form for reporting, trends and analysis.
• Working knowledge of systems such as SAP, Phoenix and Chart runner.  Test products and processes to establish functionality and effectiveness.  Determines what modifications are needed after testing.
• Ability to define problems collects data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions and provide solutions.