Quality Technician - Lead-US

Kennametal, Inc.•La Vergne, TN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Technician Lead will cover job functions for the quality department on the floor performing product & process audits, confirming results & reporting conditions, supporting communication & acting as an extension of the QE group. This role requires the ability to complete designed roving product & process audits, communicate and coach closure of process and inspection non-conformances, and collaborate with Quality and Engineering personnel to determine critical part features and review manufacturability as it relates to product quality. The position involves confirming measurements/results on the floor in audit & MRB processes, assisting with data entry (Excel, SAP) for long-term data tracking, and communicating regularly with cross-functional teams for day-to-day execution on the floor. The role also includes creating sort instructions for scrap event containment, supporting the regular control of documentation, gage calibrations, and golden samples, and programming automated measurement equipment (Keyence, OGP, CMM, Roboworker, etc.). Additionally, the Quality Technician Lead will collaborate with other departments to ensure timely order completion, train and coordinate team member activities, and provide general assistance to quality engineering and management groups. This role offers technical support to quality and quality engineering (QE) functions, may assist with general data entry for financial & QCPC management processes, and requires partnership with cross-functional teams (Production, Op Ex, Engineering, etc.). The technician will program automated measurement equipment, work with the team to design/redesign/order & track inspection tooling and fixturing, schedule & oversee MSA study execution, and assist the QE group with diagnosing failed studies. Creating golden samples for detection systems, managing their storage and calibration, performing layered process audits (LPA), and working with cross-functional teams on root cause/corrective actions are also key responsibilities. The role involves analyzing statistical data from processes to confirm compliance or identify deviations, confirming out-of-spec product conditions at MRB and making disposition recommendations, and tracking MRB entry over time and results for COPQ analytics. Writing sort instructions prior to sorting activities from MRB & customer complaints, assisting QE with updating procedures, failure catalogs, and control plans, and performing document control activities after approval are also part of the role. The technician will assist QE with containment activities/transactions/reporting in customer complaints, potentially assist with root cause analysis, and create/post/remove quality alerts at work centers. SAP transaction assistance to support quality operations is required, as is leading training for the team on measurement equipment and Quality best practices. Daily work is determined by the structure and needs of the Quality group, with additional tasks potentially including material handling. The role involves responding to machine/line down scenarios when Quality review is relevant, participating in scrap/complaint reduction activities and projects, and assisting with maintenance of QMS, document control, records, and ISO9001 auditing standards.

Requirements

Must have a High School Diploma or equivalent.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Must be able to use required computer software including but not limited to SAP, Microsoft Office.
3-5 years of experience required.
Must be able to manage gages and measurement devices that determine compliance to drawing and product specifications.
Must be able to retrieve and interpret drawings & specifications.
Must be able to read and understand insert identification chart, routings and operating procedures.
Must be familiar and able to properly interpret insert defect criteria.
Applies experience and skills to complete assigned work within own area of expertise.
Works within standard operating procedures and/or scientific methods.
Must be able to understand functions & results from the inspection labs.
Must have a base knowledge of SAP or aptitude to be trained in the application.
Must be able to create process documents and audit processes to requirements, and openly communicates findings.
Must be able to work within cross functional teams through complex tasks exercising strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Preferred Associates or Technical Degree or equivalent industry experience.

Responsibilities

Complete designed roving product & process audits as defined by the quality department.
Communicate and coach closure of process and inspection non-conformances.
Collaborate with Kennametal’s Quality and Engineering personnel to determine critical part features and review manufacturability as it relates to product quality.
Confirm measurements / results on floor in audit & MRB process.
Assist with data entry (Excel, SAP) to track data long term.
Communicate regularly with cross functions for execution on the floor day to day.
Creates sort instructions for containment of scrap event efforts.
Support the regular control of documentation, gage calibrations, golden samples (creation, storage, calibration) on the floor.
Programming of automated measurement equipment (Keyence, OGP, CMM, Roboworker, etc.).
Collaborate with other departments to ensure that orders are completed on time.
Train and Coordinate team member activities.
General assistance as needed for the quality engineering and management groups.
Provides technical support to the quality and quality engineering (QE) functions.
May assist with general data entry for financial & QCPC management process.
Programs automated measurement equipment and works with team to design / redesign / order & track inspection tooling and fixturing.
Schedules & oversees MSA study execution.
Assists QE group with diagnosis of failed studies.
Creates golden samples for detection systems (vision & automated measurements).
Manage the storage and calibration of golden samples for the entire manufacturing process.
Performs layered process audits (LPA) and works with cross functional team on root cause / corrective actions activities from findings.
Analyzes statistical data from processes to either confirm compliance with established standards or identify deviations from standards.
Confirms out of spec conditions of product at MRB and makes disposition recommendations.
Tracks MRB entry over time and results to support COPQ (Cost of Poor Quality) analytics.
Writes sort instructions prior to sorting activities from MRB & customer complaints.
Assists Quality Engineering with updating procedures, failure catalogs and control plans as well as document control activities after approval.
Assist QE with containment activities / transactions / reporting in customer complaints.
May assist with root cause analysis activities.
Creates & posts quality alerts at work centers after complaints as well as remove from floor after expiration.
SAP transaction assistance to support quality operations will be required.
Leads training the team on measurement equipment and Quality best practices.
Daily work is determined by structure and needs of the Quality group.
Additional tasks may include assistance with material handling (material transfer, fixture loading, physical scrap of material, etc.).
Responds to machine/line down scenarios when Quality review is relevant.
Participates in scrap/complaint reduction activities and projects with cross functional teams.
Assists with maintenance of QMS, document control, records, and ISO9001 auditing standards.