Cosmetic Quality Control Inspector

Carbase; West of England; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Carbase Preparation Centre is seeking a Cosmetic Quality Control Inspector to perform end-of-line quality checks on cosmetic repairs, ensuring all work meets preparation standards before vehicles progress.

This hands-on role involves polishing, buffing and finishing work alongside final quality control to keep vehicles right-first-time and support technicians across Paint, SMART, PDR and Bodyshop areas.

Qualifications

• Strong previous experience within an automotive Bodyshop, SMART Repair or Cosmetic vehicle preparation environment.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to identify repair and finish defects.
• The ability to carry out polishing, buffing and minor finishing rectification to a high standard.
• Good understanding of paint defects, colour match, panel condition and vehicle presentation.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out end-of-line inspections on completed cosmetic and Bodyshop repairs.
• Ensuring paint, panel, SMART, PDR and alloy work meets Carbase quality standards.
• Identifying defects and ensuring colour match and finish meet standards.
• Rectifying minor defects directly rather than reworking the repair where possible.
• Deciding when defects require specialist rectification and routing vehicles to the appropriate technician.
• Maintaining an understanding of Carbase preparation and cosmetic standards.
• Supporting the wider Cosmetic team with productive activity when workload allows.

Skills

Automotive Bodyshop experience

Paint finishing

Attention to detail

Polishing and buffing

Quality inspection

Colour matching

Job description

Cosmetic Quality Control Inspector

Job Title: Cosmetic Quality Control Inspector
Reports to: Cosmetic Bodyshop Manager / Supervisor
Hours: 40 hours per week
Pattern: Mon - Fri
Salary: Up to £34,000 DOE
Location: Carbase Preparation Centre

About Carbase

Carbase is the South West's largest independent pre-owned dealership group, offering a wide range of quality vehicles alongside flexible finance options and aftersales support.

As a family-run business, certified as a Great Place to Work, we're built on a commitment to trust, transparency and delivering a great customer experience.

With multiple stores, dedicated autocentres and a preparation centre, our team works together to make buying, selling and maintaining vehicles simple, straightforward and enjoyable for our customers.

Job Description

The Cosmetic Quality Control Inspector is responsible for completing end-of-line quality checks across vehicles leaving the Cosmetic Bodyshop, ensuring all repair and finishing work meets Carbase preparation standards before the vehicle progresses.

This is a hands-on productive quality role, not solely an inspection position. Alongside final quality control, you will be expected to complete minor rectification, polishing, buffing and finishing work where this can be resolved quickly at the end of the line.

Key responsibilities include:

• Carrying out detailed end-of-line inspections on completed cosmetic and Bodyshop repairs.
• Ensuring paint, panel, SMART, PDR and alloy work meets Carbase quality standards.
• Identifying paint defects, poor finishes, panel issues, missed damage or incomplete repair work.
• Checking repaired areas for colour match, gloss, finish, alignment and overall presentation.
• Completing minor polishing, buffing, flatting and finishing work where appropriate.
• Rectifying minor defects directly rather than automatically returning vehicles into the repair process.
• Deciding when defects require specialist rectification and routing vehicles back to the appropriate Technician.
• Ensuring vehicles are right-first time before progressing from the Cosmetic Department.
• Recording quality defects and helping identify repeat issues or trends.
• Working directly with Paint, SMART, PDR, Alloy and Bodyshop Technicians to improve repair quality.
• Supporting vehicle flow and preventing avoidable rework loops and Prep delays.
• Maintaining an understanding of Carbase preparation and cosmetic standards.
• Supporting the wider Cosmetic team with productive activity when workload allows.
• Maintaining a clean, safe and organised work area.
• Following all Health & Safety and Prep Centre procedures.

Candidate Requirements

We are looking for someone with:

• Strong previous experience within an automotive Bodyshop, SMART Repair or Cosmetic vehicle preparation environment.
• A strong understanding of paint, panel and cosmetic repair processes.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to confidently identify repair and finish defects.
• Previous productive Bodyshop experience, ideally in polishing, paint finishing, SMART repair or a similar discipline.
• The ability to carry out polishing, buffing and minor finishing rectification to a high standard.
• Good understanding of paint defects, colour match, panel condition and vehicle presentation.
• The confidence to make clear pass / rectification decisions against agreed preparation standards.
• A practical, hands-on approach and willingness