We are seeking a hands-on, detail-oriented Quality Engineer with experience in plastic molding, fabrication, and assembly within a manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for inspecting incoming materials, monitoring manufacturing processes, and verifying the quality of molded components, fabricated parts, assemblies, and finished products.
Working within an ISO 9001-certified quality management system, the candidate will help ensure that products meet customer specifications, engineering drawings, internal quality standards, and applicable requirements. This role will also contribute to continuous improvement by reviewing work instructions, identifying quality issues, and recommending practical process improvements to enhance product quality and manufacturing efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
1. Incoming Material Inspection
- Perform hands-on inspections of incoming raw materials, purchased components, and production inputs.
- Verify materials against purchase orders, specifications, drawings, certificates, and other applicable documentation.
- Identify, document, and report non-conforming materials and coordinate appropriate containment or corrective actions.
- Maintain accurate incoming inspection records and ensure traceability where required.
2. In-Process Quality Control
- Monitor manufacturing processes, including plastic molding, fabrication, and assembly operations.
- Verify that process parameters, machine settings, and production conditions meet established requirements.
- Conduct routine inspections and measurements during production to identify deviations before they affect product quality.
- Work with production personnel to investigate quality issues and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure operators follow approved work instructions, inspection plans, and quality procedures.
3. Molded Products, Fabrication and Assembly Inspection
- Inspect molded plastic and composite components for dimensional accuracy, surface finish, visual defects, and conformance to specifications.
- Inspect fabricated components and assembled products for fit, function, workmanship, and dimensional requirements.
- Perform final inspections of finished goods before release or shipment.
- Use appropriate measuring and inspection equipment, such as calipers, micrometers, gauges, and other inspection tools.
- Interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and acceptance criteria to determine product conformity.
4. ISO 9001 Quality Management System
- Follow established ISO 9001 quality procedures and support ongoing compliance with the quality management system.
- Maintain accurate inspection reports, non-conformance records, and other quality documentation.
- Participate in internal and external quality audits as required.
- Assist with root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and verification of corrective action effectiveness.
- Support product identification, traceability, and control of non-conforming products.
5. Work Instructions and Continuous Improvement
- Review existing work instructions, inspection procedures, and quality control plans for accuracy and effectiveness.
- Recommend and assist with revisions to work instructions where improvements are required.
- Identify recurring quality issues, process variations, and opportunities to reduce scrap, rework, and customer complaints.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Production, and Operations to improve manufacturing processes and product quality.
- Support the implementation of corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
6. Reporting and Communication
- Document inspection results and communicate quality concerns promptly to the appropriate personnel.
- Prepare and maintain quality reports, inspection records, and non-conformance documentation.
- Work closely with production teams to resolve quality issues and promote a culture of quality and accountability.
- Escalate significant product or process non-conformances to management.
Qualifications and Experience
- Post-secondary education in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical field. A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline is preferred.
- Minimum of five years of relevant quality control or quality assurance experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Practical experience with plastic molding, composite molding, fabrication, and/or assembly operations.
- Experience working in an ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facility.
- Hands-on experience inspecting incoming materials, in-process production, molded components, assemblies, and finished goods.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, specifications, and work instructions.
- Familiarity with measurement tools and inspection equipment.
- Knowledge of non-conformance reporting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement practices.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify and resolve quality issues.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with production and engineering personnel.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the preparation and maintenance of quality records.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with composite or thermoplastic compression molding processes.
- Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC), first-piece inspection, and in-process inspection techniques.
- Knowledge of basic quality tools, such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, and Pareto analysis.
- Experience supporting ISO 9001 audits and maintaining quality management system documentation.
- Familiarity with calibration requirements and the control of measuring and monitoring equipment.
- Experience implementing ISO14001 and or ISO45001
Key Competencies
- Hands-on, practical approach to quality control.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Proactive approach to identifying quality risks and preventing defects.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Performance Expectations
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Maintain consistent inspection and documentation practices throughout the manufacturing process.
- Identify and report non-conforming materials and products in a timely manner.
- Help reduce scrap, rework, and recurring manufacturing defects.
- Ensure inspections are completed in accordance with approved procedures and customer requirements.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of work instructions and manufacturing processes.
- Support ongoing compliance with the company's ISO 9001 quality management system.
Working Environment
This position is primarily based in a manufacturing facility and requires regular interaction with production, molding, fabrication, assembly, and shipping operations. The role involves hands-on inspection activities on the production floor as well as maintaining quality documentation and records.
