Quality Engineer - Manufacturing Operations

Arrow Specialties USA•Richmond, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Engineer supports manufacturing operations for the Aramids team (Nomex and Kevlar) at Arclin’s Spruance Manufacturing Plant in Richmond, Virginia. The role ensures that ISO 9001:2015 and other applicable quality requirements are implemented and maintained, and drives quality management system improvement, customer satisfaction, and supplier and manufacturing quality. The Quality Engineer establishes procedures and systems to anticipate failure modes and prevent quality incidents; conducts or supports internal, customer, and third-party audits; maintains customer and product specifications; analyzes product-property data and assesses process capability; and monitors product properties and the disposition of non-standard production. The position leads or participates in investigations of internal and customer quality non-conformances, coordinates corrective actions, and responds to customer or sales and marketing requests concerning quality. It also initiates and monitors quality improvement programs, tracks performance against operating tasks and KPIs, monitors raw-material performance, supports manufacturing document control, and provides quality training as needed. The role works with internal and external customers and Technical Marketing partners, communicates quality information clearly, and provides leadership to drive improvements. The position is salaried and exempt, with an annual bonus incentive. The schedule is weekdays, with possible on-call troubleshooting, and travel is 10–30%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a science-related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 3 years of manufacturing or related experience.
ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Certification; may be obtained on the job.
Proficiency in Minitab and SAP.
Proficiency with Microsoft programs, including Excel and PowerPoint, for data analysis and reporting.
Ability to understand applicable quality standards and the controls needed to achieve and maintain compliance.
Demonstrated ability to understand, calculate, establish, and communicate quality metrics, including complaints, complaint frequency, cycle time, and audit results.
Experience auditing, performing root cause failure analysis, and driving critical corrective and preventive actions to closure.
Understanding of data analysis and its application to manufacturing process capability improvement.
Experience in process troubleshooting, operational quality SOP/SP knowledge, and customer quality change management.
Understanding of quality IT systems and tracking.
Knowledge of operational processes and flow as they relate to quality.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, time management, judgment, integrity, bias for action, change-agent behavior, and communication skills.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly to internal and external customers.
Availability for 10–30% travel and possible on-call troubleshooting.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the Kevlar or Nomex line of business.

Responsibilities

Ensure ISO 9001:2015 and other applicable quality requirements are implemented and maintained at the Spruance Plant.
Identify and carry out corrective and preventive actions to improve the quality management system, customer satisfaction, and supplier and manufacturing quality.
Establish quality management procedures and systems that anticipate failure modes and prevent quality incidents.
Conduct or support first-, second-, and third-party quality audits, including ISO and customer audits, and monitor corrective action plans.
Maintain customer and product specifications, analyze product-property data, assess capability to meet specifications, and follow up on requirements that cannot be met.
Organize or support information sharing at standing data-review meetings and quality forums.
Monitor product properties and control and disposition non-standard production.
Lead or participate in internal and external quality non-conformance investigations, coordinate teams using methods such as 5 Whys, FMEAs, and root cause analysis, and ensure corrective actions are effective.
Coordinate responses to customer complaints and quality-related requests from customers, Marketing, or Sales.
Initiate, monitor, and execute quality improvement programs and events aligned with Critical Operating Tasks and KPI targets.
Monitor raw-material performance.
Support or lead manufacturing document control for standard practices, standard operating procedures, check sheets, and tests.
Provide quality training as a subject matter expert for new and existing employees, as needed.
Interface with internal and external customers to handle inquiries, complaints, and other quality issues, and work with Technical Marketing partners to meet customer needs.
Apply data analysis to improve manufacturing process capability and communicate quality metrics and results.
Drive quality improvements through leadership and clear oral and written communication.