Quality Assurance Inspector I

Gleason•Loves Park, IL

82d•$17 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Assurance Inspector works under the general supervision of the Quality Supervisor and the Quality Assurance Lead Technician. The role performs action-oriented inspection duties to maintain high production-quality standards at Gleason Cutting Tools. The inspector supports the company’s Continual Improvement, Environmental, Lean, and Quality Management Systems, including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 activities. The inspector performs visual, dimensional, and functional inspections of materials, products, and components; verifies that products meet specifications and required functionality, safety, and performance standards; and records and reports defects and non-conformities. The role includes maintaining inspection records, investigating quality issues and root causes, supporting corrective actions, and providing findings and recommendations to supervision. The inspector also works on MGR inspections in the metallurgical laboratory. The position contributes to continuous improvement by evaluating and standardizing QA processes, developing best practices, and identifying cost-reduction opportunities while maintaining quality. It involves ensuring inspection equipment is maintained, calibrated, and functioning; collaborating with production, engineering, and supervisory teams; supporting audits; and sharing knowledge and training with other inspectors. This is a manufacturing-environment position. The employee may encounter moving mechanical parts, wet or humid conditions, high or precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, outdoor weather, extreme heat, electrical-shock risk, vibration, and usually loud noise. Physical demands include frequent standing, walking, sitting, handling objects, and reaching; occasional climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, talking, and hearing; frequently lifting or moving up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds. Proper lift assistance is required for objects over 40 pounds.

Requirements

Strong attention to detail and extensive knowledge of quality standards and inspection processes.
Familiarity with inspection machines, including CMMs, and inspection tools such as micrometers and calipers.
Knowledge of inspection methods for each product group.
Ability to communicate technical information in a group environment.
Ability to maintain product identification and control in inspection areas and throughout the shop floor.
Ability to ensure products meet specifications before shipment and to ensure inspection machines are maintained and calibrated.
Ability to reroute and print MGR route cards.
Ability to communicate awareness and understanding of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 policies, GCTC Lean Principles, and GCTC health and safety requirements.
Ability to use Microsoft Office 365, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, to create and maintain reports and documentation.
Proficiency in DocuWare and GCTC Intranet functions and dashboards.
Understanding of GCTC Continual Improvement, Environmental, and Quality filing systems, and ability to maintain files accurately.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the manufacturing job, including frequent lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds and occasional lifting or moving of up to 40 pounds; proper lift assistance is required for objects over 40 pounds.
Ability to perform the essential duties in the described manufacturing work environment, with reasonable accommodations available as applicable.

Nice To Haves

Trained or certified as an ISO 9001 Internal Auditor.
Trained or certified as an ISO 14001 Internal Auditor.

Responsibilities

Conduct visual, dimensional, and functional inspections of materials, products, and components against specifications.
Record and report defects, inconsistencies, and other issues found during inspection.
Verify products meet required functionality, safety, performance, and specification standards before shipment.
Check that inspection tools and instruments are calibrated, maintained, accurate, and reliable before use.
Continuously evaluate, standardize, and improve QA processes, tools, and methodologies.
Develop and enforce QA best practices and identify cost-reduction opportunities while maintaining quality standards.
Maintain detailed inspection records and document and report defects or non-conformities.
Investigate and analyze quality issues to determine root causes and work with relevant teams on corrective actions.
Provide supervision with feedback and recommendations based on inspection results and findings.
Perform MGR inspections in the metallurgical laboratory.
Collaborate with production, engineering, and supervisory teams to meet quality goals and product delivery deadlines.
Communicate quality issues and testing progress to stakeholders.
Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, root-cause analyses, and internal audits; support external audits when needed.
Ensure products comply with company, industry, and regulatory quality requirements, and stay current on relevant practices and regulations.
Share knowledge of testing tools, techniques, and quality practices, and train and support new and existing inspectors.
Maintain proper identification and control of products in inspection areas and throughout the shop floor.
Maintain inspection machines and ensure they are calibrated and functioning.
Properly reroute and print route cards for MGRs.
Communicate understanding of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 policies, GCTC Lean Principles, and GCTC health and safety requirements.
Use Microsoft Office 365 to create and maintain reports and documentation; use DocuWare, GCTC Intranet functions, and dashboards.
Accurately maintain Continual Improvement, Environmental, and Quality filing systems.