Senior Quality Assurance Specialist

Drake International; Eastern Ontario; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Quality Assurance Specialist in Eastern Ontario. This leadership role involves maintaining quality management systems according to ISO standards, managing audits, and supporting product quality objectives. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years in quality engineering and a degree in technology or engineering, along with strong skills in problem-solving and team management. Competitive remuneration is offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Quality Engineering role in a similar environment.
• Experience with auditing (Internal and with external suppliers).
• Familiarity with special processes such as soldering.

Responsibilities

• Manage preparation for and support the ISO audits.
• Recommend and implement changes to the quality management systems.
• Lead investigations and dispositions of non-conformances.
• Support the development of new products through quality planning.

Skills

ISO 9001 Quality management standard

Technical knowledge of electronics manufacturing

Root cause and problem-solving skills

MS Office skills (Word, Excel, PPT)

Education

Technology or Engineering Degree

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Senior Quality Assurance Specialist

Reporting to: Quality Systems/Quality Assurance Manager

Roles reporting to this position: Quality Assurance Specialist, Inspector

Summary of Role:

A leadership role that actively supports the following requirements:

• Maintaining Quality management system registration to ISO 9001:2015 and 14001-2015 standards employed at the organization and Quality Manual requirements
• Maintaining certification to D-01-05 and CWPCP Quality Plan
• New product introduction planning and deliverables
• Product quality meets internal and customer objectives.
• Internal QMS processes to meet target objectives.
• Champion of Quality Management System.

Internal Customers: Operational Departments, Management of organization and Leadership

External Customers: Suppliers of materials and products to organization; as well as customers and end users of products, Registration and certification bodies.

Core Responsibilities

This role supports all day-to-day use of policies, procedures, methods and activities related to the effectiveness of the Quality and Environmental Management Systems and includes the following responsibilities:

• Manage preparation for, organization of and support the ISO audits
• Recommend and implement changes to the quality management systems, policies, procedures and processes
• Support management review meetings and actions
• Provide failure analysis and associate corrective action of customer escapes, supplier and internal non-conformances
• Educating and training of company personnel on the Quality Management Systems and procedures
• Recommending drawing and procedure changes
• Supporting the development of new products through project quality planning activities such as project deliverables, project quality plans, design reviews, first articles, reports, configuration audits and analysis as required
• Writing workmanship standards and defining verification checklists. Supporting Verification staff to ensure flow of material.
• Recommending improvements to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the verification process
• Inspector and operator self-verification training and certification
• Supporting the database/records, defining test and inspection specifications, documents and ensuring all records are accurate
• Leading the investigation and disposition of customer, internal and supplier Non-conformances. Initiating MRB meetings
• Manage team, including direction, development and oversight
• Performing the following types of audits as required, supplier, quality management system, environmental, work cell and configuration
• Initiating, investigating, determining root cause, action plans, follow up, documenting and verification of corrective actions as required. Using the QA toolkit and problem-solving methodologies on a day-to-day basis.
• Originating and closing Quality Alerts
• Recommending improvements to vendor quality requirements and performing vendor approvals
• Maintaining the equipment calibration system, outsourcing calibration and performing select calibrations or verifications
• Collect and analyze data and generate KPI reports, initiate actions when targets are not met
• Assessing and monitoring business process systems and manufacturing processes to ensure they function effectively and meet targets. Identify risks to those processes
• Interaction and co-ordination with all departments to ensure quality targets are met or actions defined
• Visual verification and quality auditing of manufactured products as required.
• Hands-on testing as required
• Record keeping; maintaining documentation and verification files
• Working closely with the Plant Manager to ensure work flows smoothly through the verification process to meet company delivery schedules
• Being alert to potential problems and bringing them to the attention of the Quality Manager/General Manager

Other Responsibilities

Supporting Continuous Improvement activities using the appropriate C.I. tools such as; 5Why’s, 8D Problem Solving, Advanced Quality Planning, 5S, etc.

Other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned to the role.

Performance Standards

• Ability to work with customers, suppliers and across all departments at a hands-on, as well as at a management level with minimal supervision
• Coherent, logical, accurate, complete and prompt analysis, reports, audits, non-conformances, corrective actions, KPI’s and investigations
• Excellent knowledge of principles, methods, policies and procedures for quality systems
• Experience with auditing (Internal and with external suppliers)
• Strong ability to clearly communicate verbally and in writing and present complex issues in a clear concise manner using problem solving tools as required
• Coach/train quality assurance team members and other staff as required
• Efficient and work within schedule requirements
• Dependable - being able to work well and to standards without supervision
• Safety – Participates in Safety practices, policies and procedures to ensure a safe work environment

Skills & Behaviors

Must have direct experience or be proficient with:

• ISO 9001 Quality management standard. Experience with ISO14001:2015 would be an asset.
• Technical knowledge of electronics manufacturing, assembly and test techniques.
• Interpret and influence the engineering drawing package and quality requirements
• Root cause, problem solving and analytical skills; use of the 8D problem solving techniques, pareto analysis, statistical methods, 5Why
• Taking ownership of issues, tasks and initiates actions, including follow up and tracking
• Non-conformance investigation and management
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team at various levels within an organization
• MS Office skills, including Word, Excel and PPT

Experience or familiarity with

• Special processes such as; soldering
• Ability to use test equipment such as test jigs as required
• Environmental management systems
• Negotiation skills to achieve win-win solutions.
• Ability to influence others at various levels within an organization.
• MRP and QMS data systems.
• Works as part of a team – for example, constructive contributions to team, co-operation with others in the team and across the company
• Communicates effectively – Provides and receives information clearly and effectively
• Ensures accuracy and quality – ensures that work is done correctly, completely, consistently and to required standards
• Accountable for actions
• Operates with integrity
• Understands the customer’s view
• Challenges the status quo and embraces change
• Operates with safety as a priority

Education

Technology or Engineering Degree and (Preferred) have a quality (CQE etc) or six sigma accreditations.

Experience

Minimum 5 years’ experience in Quality Engineering role in a similar environment is preferred