2nd shift Quality Assurance Lead

Vibram Corporation•North Brookfield, MA

About The Position

SUMMARY The Quality Assurance Lead is responsible for supporting and ensuring product quality across all manufacturing stages: Polyurethane, MixForm, Molding, and Finishing. This role plays a key part in verifying process adherence, identifying and escalating nonconforming product, conducting inspections, and maintaining quality documentation. The position ensures daily consistency, supports training efforts, and facilitates collaboration across Production, Quality, and Technical teams to reduce defects and uphold standards. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Conduct inspections across all departments (Mixing, Preform, Molding, Finishing) to verify conformance to specifications for weight, density, appearance, mix accuracy, and final finish. 2. Identify and document quality issues. Escalate recurring or critical deviations to Supervisors and Quality Management in real time. 3. Validate setup quality and confirm process requirements at the start of shifts and after material/mold/tool changes. 4. Communicate quality issues, hold areas, and unresolved defects across shifts to ensure continuity and accountability. 5. Audit operator adherence to work instructions and job breakdown sheets across all work centers. 6. Tag, document, and isolate nonconforming materials or product to prevent unapproved use or shipment. 7. Monitor quality-critical checkpoints during active production and provide immediate feedback to Operators and Leads to ensure process control. 8. Maintain accurate, timely records of inspections, quality holds, defects, and audits using designated logs and digital systems. 9. Support investigation of returned product, root cause identification, and rework/scrap decisions in collaboration with the Quality and Technical teams. 10. Identify trends, assist in root cause analysis, and contribute suggestions for improvement in inspection criteria, procedures, and standard work. 11. Support onboarding and operator training on product quality expectations, defect recognition, and inspection techniques. 12. Conduct AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) inspections as required across departments according to established protocols and inspection levels.

Requirements

High School diploma or General Education Degree (GED) required
1+ years of experience in manufacturing quality
Ability to read and comprehend work instructions and job breakdown sheets
Ability to write clear and concise reports
Strong communication skills to engage across all shifts and departments
Ability to apply basic math and measurements (grams, millimeters, ratios)
Understanding of process specifications and numerical tolerances
Attention to Detail – Accurate and consistent inspection and documentation
Cross-Functional Communication – Keeps stakeholders informed
Problem Solving – Participates in root cause analysis and corrective actions
Process-Oriented Thinking – Understands and reinforces process standards
Collaboration – Works closely with Production, Quality, and Technical teams
Adaptability – Adjusts quickly to shifting priorities and quality challenges
Professionalism – Approaches tasks with a responsible and respectful demeanor
Safety & Compliance – Upholds all safety and quality protocols
Ability to assess conformance and risk
Capable of making informed decisions with limited supervision
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
Familiar with data entry into digital logs or spreadsheets

Nice To Haves

Experience with MS Excel, Word, or other quality tracking systems preferred

Responsibilities

Conduct inspections across all departments (Mixing, Preform, Molding, Finishing) to verify conformance to specifications for weight, density, appearance, mix accuracy, and final finish.
Identify and document quality issues. Escalate recurring or critical deviations to Supervisors and Quality Management in real time.
Validate setup quality and confirm process requirements at the start of shifts and after material/mold/tool changes.
Communicate quality issues, hold areas, and unresolved defects across shifts to ensure continuity and accountability.
Audit operator adherence to work instructions and job breakdown sheets across all work centers.
Tag, document, and isolate nonconforming materials or product to prevent unapproved use or shipment.
Monitor quality-critical checkpoints during active production and provide immediate feedback to Operators and Leads to ensure process control.
Maintain accurate, timely records of inspections, quality holds, defects, and audits using designated logs and digital systems.
Support investigation of returned product, root cause identification, and rework/scrap decisions in collaboration with the Quality and Technical teams.
Identify trends, assist in root cause analysis, and contribute suggestions for improvement in inspection criteria, procedures, and standard work.
Support onboarding and operator training on product quality expectations, defect recognition, and inspection techniques.
Conduct AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) inspections as required across departments according to established protocols and inspection levels.