Quality Assurance - Quality Engineer

Quality Assurance - Quality Engineer
POSITION SUMMARY:
Reporting to the Quality Assurance Manager, the Quality Engineer ensures that the quality of the plastic parts produced in the plant will meet all customer expectations. The Quality Engineer will quickly and effectively take action when non-conformances are found and proactively identify and drive Continuous Improvement projects to increase product quality, overall manufacturing efficiency and productivity while reducing cost and waste.
The position will be a resource for the plant, assisting in solving quality and technical issues; ensuring that the plant and its Quality Systems evolve and continuously improve through close association with plant management. This position will lead continuous improvement activities in the plant to ensure quality and food safety requirements, including Safe Quality food (SQF) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), are followed.
The Quality Engineer will maintain the integrity of the certified quality system requirements with lean, cost effective strategies that meet the organization's needs. This position participates in strengthening the customer relationship and is also responsible for food safety and quality procedures to ensure that the Company's objectives for food safety and quality meet or exceed customer's and regulatory agency's requirements.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITES:

• Drive, Manage, and Meet Quality Objectives for Manufactured Parts

• Conduct regular reviews of PHRs and PQIs to analyze root causes and determine patterns.
• Ensure product quality and procedures are in place and properly executed to minimize defects and protect customers.
• Ensure that required quality audits take place and corrective actions for non-compliances are completed.
• Ensure timely and effective follow-up on customer product quality issues including:
  • Drive the process for answering customer PQIs on time with the plant, using timely follow-up, communication, and production knowledge to ensure answers provided to customers are correct, logical, and have corrective actions completed to prevent reoccurrence.
  • Respond to customers within 10 days of receipt of PQIs, with clear, well written responses, tailored to an audience that does not have intimate knowledge of the plant or Polytainers operations.
• Conduct thorough investigations and root cause analyses of plant issues and internal problems within quality to effectively correct deficiencies and prevent recurrence.
• Ensure that documented practices meet the true interpretation of the quality management system standards.
• Participate in the delivery of performance objectives and establish corrective actions when performance is off target.
• Perform scheduled Safe Quality Food (SQF) internal audits, present findings monthly, and follow through on all corrective actions.
• Maintain the most recent understandings of the quality system requirements and therefore ensure that documented practices meet the true interpretation of the quality management system standards.
• Participate in determining plant quality assurance objectives and be accountable for ensuring projects assigned are properly planned out, executed, and documented as per planned deadlines.
• Establish corrective actions when performance is off target.
• Conduct regular reviews of PHRs and PQIs in order to analyze root causes and determine patterns.
• Based on the above analysis, engage with plant management to drive forward on corrective actions for major issues.

• Customer Relationship and Complaint Management

• Ensure timely, effective, and thorough follow up on customer product quality issues.
• Ensure compliance and timely completion of regulatory documents.
• Communicate effectively with customers, including during on-site visits.
• Track and report on customer complaints (PQIs) at daily Production meetings, formal NCRs, and associated corrective action plans.
• Follow up to validate corrective actions have been completed and effective, and facilitate regular meetings to provide updates and/or determine root causes and corrective actions.
• Engage in customer visits to gain full understanding of customer root cause concerns and to strengthen the customer relationship.
• Facilitate team meetings to determine root cause and corrective actions.
• Prepare final reports to customer and submit to the issuing PQI coordinator for closure.
• Perform scheduled SQF internal audits. Prepare and present report on findings at monthly meetings.
• Follow up with the department manager responsible for findings that require corrections for NCRs and PQIs.

• Project Management and Continuous Improvement Work

• Assist in establishing quality objectives and performance metrics in conjunction with plant leadership.
• Lead, execute, and document quality improvement projects from end to end and provide feedback.
• Promote a continuous improvement culture.
• Participate in determining plant objectives in establishing the performance metrics for the objectives and providing leadership in ensuring projects are supported with technical and troubleshooting assistance.
• Ensure assigned activities are properly planned out, executed, and documented as per planned deadlines. Facilitate implementation of changes.
• Provide feedback and follow up throughout the project life cycle to drive improvement.

• Technical Support

• Gain a thorough understanding of the quality processes, practices, and plant technologies (injection molding, thermoforming, etc.) and provide technical support as needed.
• Work cross-functionally to ensure proper execution of all test requirements (including sign off) for new equipment/products/processes for Molding and Printing.
• Review and analyze results. Recommend changes to processes based upon findings and perform follow up to verify effectiveness.
• Be knowledgeable of quality standards and understand process / product interactions.
• Act as a resource to quality team members, operations, and maintenance by taking ownership and leading resolution of escalated day to day problems using accepted problem-solving methodology.

• Analysis and Reporting

• Analyze and report quality issues, improvement initiatives, root causes, corrective actions, and all other quality-related items in daily team meetings, plant meetings, and leadership meetings.
• Ensure Quality Manager is aware of all current quality issues and their progress.
• Report on performance and corrective actions at appropriate forums, such as the daily production meeting.
• Provide feedback to supervisors on compliance with respect to processes and procedures.
• Communicate quality issues to appropriate plant management in a timely fashion to initiate corrective actions.
• Effectively communicate and reinforce company's commitment to quality improvement efforts.

• Backup for Quality Supervisor

• Oversee the responsibilities of the Quality Supervisor in their absence.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Experience required:

• Post graduate degree or diploma, preferably in engineering, or equivalent.
• At least 3 years' experience working in quality in a manufacturing environment
• Minimum 5 years of technical support experience in a fast paced, high volume lean manufacturing environment.
• Proven record of accomplishment in leading change.
• Proven ability to deliver results.
• Ability to effectively coach, manage and support team members.
• Ability to manage significant workload including conflicting priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and people management skills.

Preferred experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Quality Engineering or a related field.
• Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of thermoforming, injection molded plastics, and/or food packaging.
• Familiar with Safe Quality Food (SQF) processes.
• Well-versed in lean manufacturing with experience working in a continuous improvement (CI) culture.
• Excellent PC skills and advanced in Microsoft Excel.
• Proven track record working with people and problem resolution and strong interpersonal, collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to root cause and determine permanent corrective actions.
• Effective planning and organizational skills and ability to manage significant workload including conflicting priorities.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing tools and applications.
• Knowledge of 6 sigma tools and applications (Green Belt or equivalent).

Polytainers is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Polytainers is committed to diversity and inclusivity in employment and welcomes applications from qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds. Polytainers is also committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.