The Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring quality requirements are integrated into the production process, upholding stakeholder needs and industry standards in accordance with relevant regulations and specifications. This role includes managing nonconformities, facilitating customer inspections, and driving continuous improvement initiatives within the organization.
Principal Activities:
Stakeholder Engagement: Understand and interpret customer contracts, regulatory requirements, and specifications (ASTM, Military, DFARS, FAR) to ensure quality requirements are effectively incorporated into production processes.
Quality Plan Development:
Develop, implement, and continuously improve quality plans, including inspection steps, tools, data requirements, and sampling plans.
Oversee processes such as FAIRS, FAT/IAT, hold points, and source inspection points.
Material Certification Reviews: Conduct thorough reviews of supplied products to validate compliance with material specifications, drawings, and contractual requirements, potentially including radiographic testing (RT).
Source Inspection Liaison:
Serve as the primary point of contact for customers during source inspection sessions, ensuring that all customer needs and requirements are fulfilled.
Nonconforming Material Management:
Champion the Material Review Board (MRB) and Supplier Improvement Request (SIR) processes with oversight from the Quality Manager.
Ensure timely resolution of issues and implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Customer Communication:
Prepare and respond to customer issues and corrective action requests (CARs), including reports such as VIRS, VPARS, LOAs, and customer Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) responses.
Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Drive continuous improvement utilizing company operating systems and quality tools.
Manufacturing Support: Collaborate with manufacturing teams to maintain product quality, mentor staff, and ensure all personnel are appropriately qualified for their roles (NDT, welding, RT sign-offs, etc.).
Procedure Development: Create, review, edit, and implement procedures related to special processes and quality systems.
Documentation and Archiving: Maintain and archive customer-required documentation in alignment with customer specifications.
Data Analysis: Conduct data analysis and prepare reports and presentations as necessary.
Audit Participation: Assist in both internal and external audits, including those from third parties and customers.
Continuous Improvement Projects: Actively participate in projects aimed at improving quality systems and processes.
Education & Experience:
Required: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
Experience: A minimum of 5 years in quality engineering, with a focus on audits and a strong understanding of quality concepts and principles.