Quality Inspector/Team Leader

Hewland Engineering Ltd; White Waltham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A precision manufacturing company in White Waltham is seeking an experienced Inspection Team Leader to oversee quality assurance processes. This role involves managing a team of skilled inspectors, ensuring compliance with industry standards such as AS9100 and ISO9001, and driving improvements within inspection practices. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership skills and a background in engineering or precision manufacturing.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years experience in inspection leadership within engineering.
• Strong knowledge of ISO standards (AS9100, ISO9001, ISO14001).
• Ability to coordinate teams and manage inspection processes.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and mentor inspection team members.
• Coordinate workload to meet production schedules.
• Ensure compliance with quality management standards.
• Implement and monitor inspection procedures.
• Identify and drive opportunities for process improvement.

Skills

Inspection leadership

Knowledge of AS9100

Quality management

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Tools

CMM

Contour Tracers

Precision height gauges

Job description

Please be aware that sponsorship is not available for this role.

Job Title: Inspection Team Leader

Department:Inspection
Reporting to:Production Manager

Due to Hewland's continued expansion and strong product portfolio across both motorsport and future automotive, we are looking to recruit an Inspection Team Leader to support the Quality Assurance aspect of the business.

Hewland Engineering is relied upon by many of the world's top motorsport teams, performance car constructors, and hybrid and electric transportation innovators to extract the performance and reliability they require to get their high-performance transmission challenges done.

As the Inspection Team Leader at Hewland Engineering, you will play a vital role in ensuring the quality and precision of our products while leading the day-to-day inspection operations. You will supervise the inspection team, manage inspection processes, and uphold compliance with Hewland's quality management systems, including AS9100, ISO9001, and ISO14001. This position requires a hands-on leader with a keen eye for detail, able to problem solve effectively, a strong commitment to quality, and the ability to drive continuous improvement in a dynamic, engineering-focused environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise and mentor a team of skilled inspectors, fostering a culture of quality, precision, and continuous improvement
• Coordinate the workload of the inspection team to meet production schedules and maintain Hewland's high standards
• Manage people effectively using appropriate management techniques, including appraisals, development plans and apprentice plans
• Ensure versatility within your team to meet output requirements and develop staff morale
• Establish overtime requirements, arrange with direct reports and acquire authorisation
• Oversee all inspection processes ensuring compliance with customer specifications and Hewland's rigorous quality standards
• Implement and monitor inspection procedures for compliance with AS9100, ISO9001, and ISO14001 requirements, maintaining alignment with industry best practices
• Track, monitor and improve all responsible KPI's (safety, people, quality, delivery, and cost - SPQDC)
• Enforce health and safety regulations within the inspection department, contributing to Hewland's safe working environment
• Confirm work area 5S daily and demonstrate zero tolerance to non-conformance
• Identify and drive opportunities for improvement within inspection practices to enhance quality, efficiency, and productivity
• Continually strive to improve and develop processes to ensure quality and optimise delivery
• Work closely with engineering, production, and quality departments to address quality issues and implement corrective actions
• Ensure inspection processes comply with Hewland's certifications, including AS9100 and ISO9001 standards
• Support both internal and external audits, providing required documentation and expertise
• Communicate clearly with wider production team and management through daily meetings

The Ideal Candidate Must Have/Skills Required

Essential Requirements

• 3-5 years relevant inspection leadership experience in an engineering or precision manufacturing environment
• Strong knowledge of AS9100, ISO9001, ISO14001, and related industry standards
• Ability to coordinate inspection personnel, creating shift plans to maximise output and deliver the schedule
• Well-versed in inspection methods with the ability to train others on various inspection equipment including - CMM using Quartis software or equivalent, Contour Tracers, surface roughness and precision height gauges
• Team player with excellent communication skills
• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to process improvement
• Effective organisational skills and attention to detail

Desirable

• Experience of a high precision manufacturing environment (Turning, Milling, Shaping and grinding)
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other quality improvement methodologies
• Knowledge of calibration systems of measuring equipment
• Knowledge of NDT (Magnetic Particle Inspection and Nital Etch) methods – Training can be organised