Description

The Lead Quality Control Technician (Lead QC Tech) will be based in the Quality Lab and oversee and lead certain team members with the associated work activities. Incoming inspections and drafting Nonconformance Reports (NCR), where applicable, are the primary work activities. The Lead QC Tech is also hands-on and will inspect, measure, test, and analyze various Schluter products and raw material components to verify that requirements are met and draft NCRs accordingly. The Lead QC Tech will assist, or assign staff to assist, with complaint investigations, stock checks, new product qualifications, or other quality activities. The Lead QC Tech will oversee the Quality Lab’s organization, equipment, and supplies and maintain a functional work area.

Primary Responsibilities

Lead QC Techs Daily Work

· Manage Incoming Inspections

-Track and monitor incoming shipments.

-Coordinate with Purchasing to determine inspection priorities and schedule them accordingly.

-Assign inspection tasks to QC Tech I & QC Tech II personnel.

-Manage and track the disposition of goods that have completed their incoming quality inspections.

-Administer and strengthen the process for identifying a products’ acceptance status following inspection.

-Coordinate incoming shipment priorities for inspections with Receiving, including preliminary shipping damage inspections on trucks and verifications of quantities and items, where needed.

· Review NCR drafts created by QC Tech II personnel and edit them as necessary to help finalize them.

· Develop standard times for various inspection tasks.

· Train new QC Tech I & QC Tech II staff.

· Monitor staff and activities to identify areas in need of improvement.

-Drive the creation/revision of Inspection Plans, Test Methods, SOP’s, or Work Instructions that will improve Incoming Inspections efficiencies.

-Coach staff to foster improvements.

-Oversee the safety of various lab activities.

· Be the first point of contact for QC Tech I & QC Tech II to resolve issues to keep processes moving.

· Escalate issues to Quality Engineers/Quality Manager, where applicable.

Quality Inspections

· Perform various electrical quality control tests of applicable parts.

· Perform finish quality inspections visually and/or verify acceptability with a spectrophotometer and gloss meter.

· Perform dimensional inspections utilizing precision measuring equipment to verify drawing specifications.

· Determine acceptability by verifying that test results meet the respective specifications/requirements.

· Communicate the acceptance status (accept/reject/QC hold) of inspected goods to Material Handlers to streamline throughput of acceptable goods.

· Collaborate with Engineering teams on the development and implementation of inspections for new products, suppliers, and continuous improvement.

· Select and maintain retain samples from various incoming shipment, where appropriate.

· Perform stock inspections, as needed for complaints or other quality concerns.

· Record data and results accurately in specified forms (paper and electronic).

· Label, organize, and track test parts.

· Verify a certificate of analysis is received with incoming raw materials from suppliers meet respective requirements.

· Organize and store test data so it can be easily retrieved when needed.

· Release acceptable products in ERP system.

Nonconforming Product and Reports

· Identify nonconforming products and components during inspections or otherwise.

· Segregate nonconforming materials to prevent their use or distribution

· Notify Quality Engineers of quality concerns/NCR and collaborate with team (potentially Manufacturing Engineer, R&D Engineer, and Product Management) to evaluate and confirm nonconformances and finalize count of affected product.

· Identify the acceptance status (accept/reject/QC hold) of physical goods inspected with appropriate labels.

· Initiate drafts of Nonconformance Reports (NCR):

-issue nonconformance number from ERP system;

-lock affected product in ERP system to prevent transactions;

-document observations of quality concerns including photos of affected goods on NCR form;

-send draft to Quality Engineer.

· Facilitate disposition (return to vendor, scrap, rework, use as is) of the affected product determined.

· Rework nonconforming parts when reasonably feasible, such as re-bagging, re-labeling, re-boxing, and cleaning parts.

· Release acceptable portion of shipments, the remainder of product not on the NCR, in the ERP system, where applicable.

· Improve NCR Log to facilitate quality data analysis.

· Manage storage/filing of completed NCRs.

Quality Lab Maintenance

· Maintain lab cleanliness and organization.

· Ensure equipment is routinely calibrated, inspected, checked, maintained, and properly stored to ensure its accuracy and fitness for use in a collaboration with QC Tech III and Quality Engineers.

· Maintain general lab supplies; reorder supplies as needed.

· Research and make recommendations for new supplies, where needed.

· Troubleshoot equipment failures and coordinate repairs with vendors.

· Manage inspection items retains and ensure they’re properly labeled and stored.

General Responsibilities

· Communicate quality concerns to Supervisors, Management, Engineers, or Operators.

· Provide feedback on improvements for QC test methods and procedures.

· Assist with First Article Inspections (FAI) of new products and/or suppliers, as needed.

· Other duties as assigned by Management.

· Represent Schluter Systems in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner in all matters.

Requirements

Education & Experience

· High school diploma or equivalent.

· 2-4 year technical degree preferred, dependent upon experience.

· QA/QC II with Leadership experience preferred.

Skills & Knowledge

· Skilled at training/coaching others.

· Ability to multitask and prioritize workloads.

· Detail oriented and well organized.

· Ability to work with minimal supervision.

· Team player who works well with others, or can be productive working independently.

· Strong computer competency (e.g., Excel, Word, file/document organization).

· Good communicator verbally and in writing; must be able to articulate quality issues to internal teams and external suppliers.

· Adaptable to changing priorities based on product demand or as needed.

· Ability to read and follow mechanical drawings and specifications.

· Familiarity with electrical safety testing and associated equipment/instruments.

· Competent with using precision measuring equipment.

· Ability to maintain Schluter quality standards.

Physical Work Requirements

· Ability to frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

· Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

· Ability to sit or stand for an extended period of time.

· Ability to distinguish between slight color and finish variations.

· Work safely and follow OSHA regulations and internal safety policies.

· Available to work overtime as required.

· Ability to stay focused during inspections, including while performing some repetitive motions.

· Ability to walk to various locations through the campus, and potentially carry products collected or delivered, on occasion.

· Ability to travel occasionally (< 5%); able to travel domestically and internationally (primarily Europe and Canada).

COMPANY BENEFITS 

· Generous PTO

· 10 Paid Holidays

· Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

· Guaranteed Biannual Bonuses

· 401k with Company Match

· Company Paid Life Insurance

· Annual Raises

· Room for Advancement

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Schluter Systems is a family-owned and internationally renowned company that has been rapidly growing over the last 10 years. The Schluter brand is backed by a team of people working together to create a line of innovative products that provide solutions to the tile industry. We’re looking to build our team with individuals who like to think BIG, and want to be part of what makes our products-- extraordinary. We are a company that treats its employees, suppliers, and customers as long-term partners. Where success is built on a win-win philosophy and everyone should benefit.

 "Profit is not the goal of the business. Profit is the consequence of a job well done" Werner Schluter, Founder

Are you interested in a truly unique and special company? Hear from our employees on what it means to be part of the Schluter family: http://www.schluter.com/careers . Then if you’re ready to see life in Orange, talk to us about this career opportunity at Schluter Systems.

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base pay offered will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for additional benefits to the base pay range listed above.

Schluter Systems L.P. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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