Plant Quality Engineer

BGF Industries, Inc•Altavista, VA

7h•$60,000 - $65,000

About The Position

BGF Industries is seeking a detail-oriented, quality-focused team member to help ensure products comply with customer and company requirements. The role monitors and communicates quality performance, prevents recurrence of non-conforming product, and supports continuous improvement in a manufacturing environment. The position works with plant quality, manufacturing, inspection, laboratory, process engineering, R&D, customers, and vendors on quality concerns and technical issues. It maintains customer and product specifications, supports testing and material release processes, manages customer corrective actions, analyzes quality data, assists with audits and trials, and helps reduce defects, scrap, rework, and customer returns. It also supports controlled work-instruction updates and maintains a safe, clean, and orderly work area.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree.
Strong attention to detail and pride in producing quality work.
Comfort working in a manufacturing environment.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods on concrete flooring.
Ability to reach, bend, lift, and move frequently throughout the department.
Corrected vision of at least 20/40 and ability to distinguish fabric defects and variations.
Ability to work safely around production equipment and material-handling devices.
Use of required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, hearing protection, and safety footwear.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering or scientific discipline.
Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma.
ISO 9001:2015 Auditor qualification.
Two to three years of manufacturing experience.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with the Altavista Quality Manager on quality, production, scheduling, open quality concerns, customer issues, non-conforming material, trials, corrective actions, and priorities requiring cross-functional coordination.
Cover lab clerk duties during their absence, including material releases; verify test and inspection information, maintain material status, and coordinate holds and releases in accordance with specifications and procedures.
Maintain the customer specification database, including current requirements, revisions, test methods, acceptance criteria, and related quality information.
Manage customer Corrective Action Requests (CARs), including containment, investigation, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, response preparation, effectiveness verification, and closure by required due dates.
Work with manufacturing and inspection teams to improve defects and non-conforming material; review trends, support containment and disposition, identify potential causes, and coordinate preventive actions.
Gather and analyze quality data, including SPC data related to material testing; develop and maintain trend reports and SPC tools, identify unusual variation or out-of-control conditions, and communicate findings.
Support plant efforts to reduce seconds, scrap, rework, and customer returns by identifying leading causes, monitoring improvement actions, and verifying sustained results.
Work with customers and vendors on quality and technical issues, including complaint investigations, specification clarification, process reviews, visits, and follow-up of documented commitments.
Initiate, monitor, and report on trials with Process Engineers; define objectives and quality data needs, coordinate sampling and testing, evaluate results, and document conclusions and follow-up actions.
Assist with reviewing and updating work instructions to reflect current specifications, inspection and test requirements, process controls, and approved practices.
Audit department set-up sheets for conformance with approved settings, material identification, quality checks, and documentation; document discrepancies and follow up on corrective actions.
Work with R&D on new product development by supporting trials, defining quality requirements, coordinating inspection and testing, reviewing results, identifying risks, and assisting with production transition.
Maintain M3 specifications, including product quality attributes, tolerances, testing requirements, and revision information.
Monitor statistical data for product attributes, identify trends, shifts, or excessive variation, and communicate potential issues for corrective action.
Perform additional plant quality projects, investigations, audits, and improvement activities as directed by the Quality Director.
Communicate quality performance, metrics, defect and return trends, recurring issues, and corrective-action status to manufacturing teams; support assignment and follow-up of improvement actions.
Maintain clean, neat, and orderly work areas, records, samples, and testing materials, following applicable safety, housekeeping, and material-handling requirements.
Review non-conformance areas daily with the Quality Manager and manufacturing; verify identification, control, and segregation of material, coordinate disposition, monitor aging material, and ensure corrective actions are initiated for recurring issues.
Assist with internal, customer, and certification audits, including preparation, evidence collection, auditor support, responses to findings, and tracking corrective actions to closure.
Work with laboratory personnel on testing and quality issues; review requirements and results, assist with troubleshooting abnormal results, coordinate repeat or confirmatory testing when appropriate, and help ensure testing meets product and customer requirements.