**PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF POSITION**:
To ensure products meet quality standards and compliance; by establishing, following, and enforcing quality policies and procedures that align our design and manufacturing processes.
**MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY**:
Responds to quality issues that are encountered in company processes. Leads the coordination of activities to contain and communicate the issue, disposition the material, and develop short and long-term corrective actions.
Utilizes tools such as A3, 8D analysis, 5 Why, fishbone diagrams, cause and effect matrices and other problem solving methods such as Plan, Do, Check, Act or Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (Six Sigma, DMAIC) to gather data and ultimately reach root cause and determine permanent corrective action.
Performs various types of routine audits and process monitoring to find compliance with internal quality systems. Reports on, communicates and addresses audit findings to ensure that processes follow established procedures and meet acceptable quality levels.
Establishes critical to quality characteristics and acceptance criteria of the product and develops or modifies inspection and testing procedures and documentation.
Gathers and organizes data collected from various sources to identify trends and opportunities to improve first pass yield and reduce service and warranty issues. Selects and initiates quality improvement projects and leads cross functional teams to achieve the desired results.
Creates or revises quality documentation such as quality control plans, Process and Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis (PFMEA / DFMEA), process flow diagrams.
Collaborates with others to determine needs for inspecting and collecting measurements on incoming purchased parts, performs first article inspections, and completes first article inspection reports and communicates findings to engineering, purchasing and materials.
Issues and communicates quality alerts and makes formal documented requests to internal and external suppliers for root cause and corrective action. Follows up on timeliness of response and determines when the response is satisfactory and can be closed out.
Controls the system of ensuring that all quality inspection and production tools are maintained and calibrated as required.
Supervises and manages employees as it relates to all projects or related work, establishes performance requirements, clarifies responsibilities of those supervised, conducts performance appraisals and plans for individual employee development.
Keeps supervisor informed of important developments, potential problems, and related information necessary for effective management. Coordinates and communicates plans and activities with others, as appropriate, to ensure a coordinated work effort and team approach.
Performs related work as apparent or assigned.
**QUALIFICATIONS**:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Bachelor's degree in quality engineering or other related engineering field.
At least 3 or more years of related job experience in product quality engineering, new product engineering, or industrial / manufacturing engineering.
At least 1 year of supervisory experience.
American Society of Quality (ASQ) certification preferred.
Six Sigma Certification preferred.
Strong understanding of root cause and corrective action tools and templates.
Ability to create process documentation and forms.
Ability to clearly define the problem, measure and analyze data and interpret results, draw conclusions and make fact-based decisions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions / drawings with several abstract and concrete variables in mathematical or diagram form.
Ability to properly use tools such as calipers, micrometers, protractors, tape measures and other measurement devices for the purpose of dimensional analysis.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
Ability to compute rates, ratios and percentages and to draw and interpret charts and data.
Proficient in Minitab or similar statistical analysis software.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide variety of customers, suppliers, company personnel and others.
Able to maintain a professional, ethical, and responsible image when dealing with suppliers and co-workers.
Demonstrates Northern Tool + Equipment's 12 Core Competencies.
**PHYSICAL DEMANDS**:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perf