Quality Assurance Engineer

Quality Assurance Engineer (6-month contract) - Buffalo

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering or Quality Assurance Engineering
• One to four years of experience analyzing and solving quality problems, preparing inspections plans and instructions, preparing procedures, training inspectors, performing audits, analyzing quality costs, and applying fundamental statistical methods for process control.
• Exceptional mechanical aptitude (i.e. intuitive understanding of mechanical processes)
• Proven track record of driving continuous quality improvement in a manufacturing environment.
• Previous work experience in an organization that supplied large OEM’s.
• Previous audit experience.
• Must be able to define quality concepts and quality processes, including Six Sigma basics such as design of experiments (DoE), and cost of quality. Must be able to apply quality tools, including continuous improvement techniques, problem solving, and lean concepts. Must be able to interpret information and data.
• Must be familiar with statistical terminology and techniques. Must be able to collect data for specific techniques. Must be able to interpret control chart results, process capability, and specification limits.
• Must know which measurement and test equipment (M&TE) tools are appropriate for various applications and how to assess tool accuracy and precision. Must understand the concept of calibration standards hierarchy and traceability for M&TE.
• Must be able to read and interpret blueprints (drawings), including geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T). Must understand and apply basic inspection concepts, techniques, and processes. Must be able to understand sampling characteristics, types, and selecting samples from lots. Must be able to identify and segregate nonconforming material and be familiar with the material review process.
• Must be able to understand, apply, and communicate various quality audit types and their components, tools, and techniques.
• Must understand risk assessment and mitigation. Must be able to apply the elements of corrective and preventive actions, such as root cause analysis, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and the control of nonconforming material.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Quality Technician by American Society for Quality (ASQ)
• CMM knowledge along with programming
• Customer quality assurance experience.
• Knowledge of gear manufacturing, machining, and assembly processes.
• Project management experience. 

Job Duties:

• Collaborate with customers’ quality and engineering personnel to determine critical part features and review manufacturability of design. Make recommendations to modify customer part specifications and tolerances as necessary to support cost effective production.
• Provide engineering support to operations ensuring consistent application of quality techniques
• Resolve quality issues of capability, tolerancing, and materials related issues.
• Resolve quality issues by identifying problems, examining solution options, implementing action plans, and providing resources.
• Effectively communicate and reinforce client’s commitment to quality improvement efforts
• Develop and submit PPAP documents for new product launches to meet customer requirements.
• Determine when process stability and capability studies should be performed on existing processes. Review and analyze results. Recommend changes to processes based upon findings and perform follow up to verify effectiveness.
• Participate in the Advanced Product Quality Planning activities to determine appropriate use of existing and new measurement systems during new tool or process design and startup.
• Coordinate pre-launch production trial run process monitoring.
• Participate in the development of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• Maintain Control Plans and FMEA's throughout the life of the part.
• Facilitate and promote use of appropriate problem solving techniques for effective root cause analysis and successful corrective action.
• Perform duties in accordance with quality system requirements as the voice of our customers.
• Coordinate with Sales, Purchasing, Engineering, Production, and Tool room to resolve customer complaints and concerns.
• Lead PPM improvement plan for strategic customers.
• Apply appropriate use of statistical techniques.
• Determine and apply appropriate Measurement System Analysis tools.
• Performs other duties as assigned.