Quality Engineer- contract

Description:

Job purpose

This position is a 12-month contract with opportunity to extend based on business need.

Support the direction of the quality control program designed to ensure continuous production of products consistent with established standards by performing the following duties:

Duties and responsibilities

Provide PPAP documentation based on customer criteria

• Collaborate with internal teams and customers to gather required data for the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Ensure that all required elements (e.g., design records, control plans, process flows, test results, and production samples) are included and comply with customer specifications.
• Review all PPAP documentation for accuracy and completeness before submitting it to the customer for approval.
• Communicate with customers regarding the status of PPAP submissions and any revisions needed, maintaining transparency throughout the process.
• Stay informed about any changes to customer requirements or industry standards, adapting PPAP submissions as needed.

Interact with the customer on quality related issues and concerns

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers on all quality-related matters, including complaints, inquiries, and feedback.
• Respond to customer concerns promptly, providing detailed explanations, resolutions, and timelines.
• Analyze customer feedback, investigate quality issues, and communicate findings to both internal teams and the customer to ensure timely resolution.
• Proactively reach out to customers for follow-up to ensure satisfaction and gather additional feedback to drive future improvements.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with customers to foster trust and improve long-term business partnerships.

Process RMA returns and track PPM

• Manage the Return Material Authorization (RMA) process by coordinating with customers to ensure smooth returns and exchanges.
• Inspect returned items to assess the root cause of defects or failures, documenting the findings and initiating corrective actions as needed.
• Track Parts Per Million (PPM) to monitor product quality, identifying trends and areas for improvement based on return rates.
• Report on RMA trends and PPM performance, providing insights into product quality and process effectiveness.
• Work with relevant departments to implement corrective actions to reduce return rates and improve overall product quality.

Support Problem Solving on customer complaints and safety concerns

• Lead or participate in problem-solving activities to address customer complaints or safety-related issues, using tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) or the 5 Whys methodology.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify the underlying causes of complaints or safety hazards.
• Develop and implement corrective actions to resolve issues, preventing recurrence.
• Provide timely updates to customers on the status of complaint resolution and safety actions taken.
• Ensure that corrective actions align with safety standards and regulatory requirements to prevent future occurrences.

Conduct Process Audits, Quality Audits and Internal Audits

• Plan, organize, and conduct audits to ensure compliance with quality standards and internal procedures.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current processes, identifying areas where improvements or adjustments are needed.
• Document audit findings and work with relevant teams to implement corrective actions based on the audit results.
• Track audit progress and ensure that action items are completed within the required timeframe.

Monitor Control Plan and Process Flow documentation

• Regularly review and update the Control Plan and Process Flow documentation to ensure it accurately reflects the current production processes and meets customer and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure that the Control Plan includes detailed process controls, monitoring procedures, and quality checkpoints.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Control Plan and Process Flow in maintaining product quality and process efficiency.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to implement any necessary updates or changes to these documents.
• Conduct training sessions to ensure all relevant personnel are familiar with the latest Control Plan and Process Flow documentation.

Proficient in inspection equipment at DeWys and train others as necessary

• Operate all inspection equipment at DeWys, including calipers, micrometers, coordinate measuring machines (CMM), and vision systems.
• Ensure that all inspection equipment is regularly calibrated and maintained to meet quality standards.
• Train new and existing employees on proper usage, maintenance, and troubleshooting of inspection equipment.
• Provide ongoing support to the quality team by assisting with complex inspections and resolving equipment-related issues.
• Document inspection results and ensure that all measurements are accurately recorded and reported.

Backup quality manager in their absence

• Assume full responsibility for the quality management function in the absence of the quality manager, ensuring that quality standards are met across all operations.
• Manage day-to-day quality-related activities, including overseeing inspections, audits, and compliance with customer specifications.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for any quality issues or concerns that arise during the manager's absence.
• Lead or participate in quality meetings, ensuring that key quality metrics are reviewed and improvement actions are discussed.
• Maintain consistent communication with internal teams and customers to ensure that quality processes continue without disruption.

Support Quality Technicians in final inspections as needed

• Assist Quality Technicians in performing final product inspections to ensure all products meet quality specifications before being shipped.
• Provide guidance and support to technicians when handling complex inspection issues or resolving non-conformances.
• Ensure that final inspection documentation is complete, accurate, and submitted on time.
• Help identify patterns in inspection results and work with technicians to implement improvements or corrective actions.
• Offer training and mentorship to quality technicians to improve their inspection skills and understanding of quality standards.

Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements:

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• High school education; or Associate's degree from a college or university.
• Alternatively, 8-10 years of related experience in manufacturing or quality control.
• Experience in quality systems development, implementation, and auditing procedures is required.

Technical Skills

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret blueprints or technical procedures.
• Must possess a good working knowledge of computers, including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal communication, presentation, and facilitation skills required
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from customers, leadership, and team members.

Working conditions

• Exposed to moving mechanical parts while working on the shop floor.
• Works in both an office environment with a moderate noise level.
• Works in a shop environment with a high noise level.

Physical requirements

• Regularly communicates with team members, shop floor team members, and occasionally with customers.
• Requires frequent standing and walking on the shop floor.
• Required to work on a computer terminal daily.
• Occasionally may lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Direct reports

This job has no direct reports.