Quality Engineer - Production Support

Description

Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Quality Engineer to join our team in the metal fabrication industry. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in quality systems, process improvement, and defect prevention with expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodologies. A Green Belt or Black Belt certification and relevant quality certifications (e.g., CQE, CQA) are required. This role will focus on continuous improvement, supplier quality, and customer satisfaction, ensuring our manufacturing processes meet industry standards and exceed expectations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Includes the following:

• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and industry-specific standards related to metal fabrication.
• Lead and support internal and external audits, including customer and regulatory audits.
• Maintain and improve the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with industry and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing functions to ensure quality standards are in place. Devise and implement methods and procedures for inspecting, testing and evaluating the precision and accuracy of products and production equipment
• Lead and facilitate Six Sigma (DMAIC) projects to reduce defects, improve efficiency, and enhance product quality.
• Utilize Lean manufacturing principles to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify root causes of quality issues using tools like 5-Why, Fishbone Diagrams, and FMEA.
• Implement statistical process control (SPC), control charts, and process capability analysis.
• Collaborate with suppliers to establish quality requirements, corrective actions, and improvement plans.
• Conduct supplier audits, inspections, and performance evaluations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer quality concerns, ensuring timely response and resolution of non-conformances (NCRs, CAPAs).
• Develop and oversee inspection plans, first article inspections (FAI), and final product verification.
• Utilize CMM, calipers, micrometers, and other precision measurement tools to verify conformance.
• Work with production teams to enhance in-process quality control and reduce scrap and rework.
• Ensure that corrective measures meet acceptable reliability standards, and that documentation is compliant with requirements
• May specialize in the areas of design, incoming material, production control, product evaluation and reliability, inventory control and/or research and development as they apply to product or process quality
• Provide quality training to employees on topics such as GD&T, problem-solving techniques, and inspection methods.
• Maintain documentation, work instructions, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in compliance with quality standards.

Qualification Requirements:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of knowledge, skill, and/or ability required

Education & Experience: 

• B.S. degree in engineering, technology or statistics
• Associate degree with appropriate experience may also be considered with a current ASQ Certification in Quality Engineering
• Green Belt or Black Belt certification (Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma).
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in quality engineering within metal fabrication, machining, or welding.
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or equivalent.

Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of APQP – PPAP experience specifically leading PFMEA and Control Plan teams in one of the following areas: automotive, aerospace or medical
• Proficiency in GD&T, statistical analysis, and metrology tools 
• Experience with ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949, ISO13485 or NADCAP certification processes

• Experience and knowledge of measurement techniques (CMM, vision or scanning systems)

• Advanced MS Excel skills
• Proficiency in root cause analysis, CAPA, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience with GD&T, blueprint reading, and measurement tools.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal interpersonal, communication skills and confidence to brief senior management
• A self-starter, used to taking initiative and independently identifying solutions
• Ability to work in and lead cross-functional teams to drive corrective actions
• Ability to manage multiple projects successfully

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand and sit.  The employee is regularly required to use hands to feel or handle tools, objects and controls.  The employee is rarely required to lift or move up to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include peripheral vision, close vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment:

The work environmental characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this job.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is rarely exposed to vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. 

Qualifications