Plant Quality Engineer

BGF Industries; Altavista (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

BGF Industries is seeking a Plant Quality Engineer in Altavista, VA to ensure products meet customer and company requirements. You will monitor quality performance, drive improvements, and support corrective actions across production, lab, and supplier interactions.

The role requires a BS in Science/Engineering, 2–3 years in manufacturing, and ISO 9001:2015 auditing familiarity. Join a team focused on quality, compliance, and continuous improvement in a manufacturing setting.

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail and quality-focused mindset.
• Familiarity with manufacturing environments and quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Meet with Altavista Quality Manager to communicate on quality, production and scheduling; provide status updates on open quality concerns, customer issues, non-conforming material, trials, corrective actions, and coordination with Production, Inspection, Lab, or other support functions.
• Perform duties of the lab clerk during their absence at the site; verify required test and inspection information is complete, maintain material status, and coordinate holds/releases per specifications.
• Maintain Customer Specification Database; ensure current customer requirements, specification revisions, test methods, acceptance criteria, and related quality information are communicated to affected departments.
• Manage Customer Corrective Action Requests (CAR) process; coordinate containment, investigation, root-cause analysis, corrective action, response, effectiveness verification, and closure within due dates.
• Work with Manufacturing and Inspection areas to improve defects and non-conforming material; review trends, support containment and disposition, identify causes, and coordinate prevention actions.
• Gather data to analyze trends and quality issues; develop and maintain trend reports and SPC tools for key material and product characteristics; identify shifts or out-of-control conditions.
• Work with plant manufacturing to reduce seconds and customer returns; identify leading causes, scrap, rework and verify improvements.
• Visit and work with customers and vendors on quality issues; support investigations, specification clarification, process reviews, supplier/customer visits, and document actions for closure.
• Initiate, monitor and report on trials; coordinate sampling and testing, evaluate results, and document conclusions and follow-up actions.
• Assist with work instruction review and updates to reflect current specifications and practices; support controlled updates.
• Perform department set-up sheet audits; verify settings, material identification, quality checks, and documentation.
• Work with R&D on new product development; support quality requirements, coordination of inspection/testing, and transition to routine production.
• Maintain M3 specs as required; update quality attributes, specifications, tolerances, testing requirements and revisions.
• Monitor statistical data for product attributes; identify trends and communicate findings for corrective action.
• Support other plant quality projects, audits, and improvement activities as assigned.
• Communicate quality performance to manufacturing areas to aid corrective action and continuous improvement.

Skills

Attention to detail

Quality mindset

Manufacturing environment

Education

Bachelors of Science Degree

BS in Engineering or Scientific Discipline

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Plant Quality Engineer

Laboratory and Quality Control Full Time 1 Altavista, VA, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1054

Salary Range: $60,000.00 To $65,000.00 Annually

At BGF Industries, we don't just manufacture advanced materials, we help power industries that shape the world. From aerospace and defense to transportation, industrial, and technical textile applications, BGF has built a legacy of innovation, quality, and people-first leadership for over 80 years.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and quality-focused individual to join our team as a Plant Quality Engineer. This position is responsible for ensuring products comply with customer and BGF Requirements. Monitoring and communicating quality performance to prevent recurrence of non-conforming product and supporting the continuous improvement process.

The ideal candidate has a strong attention to detail, takes pride in producing quality work, and is comfortable working in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelors of Science Degree Strong

Preferred

• BS in Engineering or Scientific Discipline
• ISO 9001:2015 Auditor
• 2 to 3 years experience in manufacturing

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods on concrete flooring.
• Frequent reaching, bending, lifting, and moving throughout the department.
• Corrected vision of at least 20/40 and the ability to distinguish fabric defects and variations.
• Manufacturing environment with exposure to moving equipment, fabric materials, noise, and production machinery.
• Required use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including safety glasses, hearing protection, and safety footwear.
• Must be able to work safely around production equipment and material handling devices.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 1. Meet with Altavista Quality Manager as needed, to communicate on a variety but specifically Quality, Production and Scheduling. Provide regular status updates on open quality concerns, customer issues, non-conforming material, trials, corrective actions, and priorities requiring coordination with Production, Inspection, Lab, or other support functions.
• 2. Perform duties of the lab clerk during their absence at the site. Including material releases and other required duties. When providing coverage, verify required test and inspection information is complete, maintain appropriate material status, and coordinate material holds/releases in accordance with applicable specifications and procedures.
• 3. Maintain Customer Specification Database Ensure current customer requirements, specification revisions, test methods, acceptance criteria, and related quality information are accurately maintained and communicated to affected departments.
• 4. Manage Customer Corrective Action Requests (CAR) process. Coordinate containment, investigation, root-cause analysis, corrective action, response preparation, effectiveness verification, and closure of customer corrective actions within required due dates.
• 5. Work with Manufacturing and Inspection areas to improve defects and non-conforming material. Review defect and non-conformance trends, support containment and material disposition, identify potential process or material causes, and coordinate actions intended to prevent recurrence.
• 6. Gather data to analyze trends and quality issues. Including but not limited too SPC related to material testing Develop and maintain trend reports and SPC tools for key material and product characteristics; identify shifts, unusual variation, or out-of-control conditions and communicate findings to responsible areas for action.
• 7. Work with plant manufacturing to reduce seconds and customer returns.. Identify leading causes of seconds, scrap, rework, and customer returns; support improvement activities, monitor action plans, and verify whether implemented changes produce sustained improvement.
• 9. Visit and work with customers and vendors on quality and technical issues. Support complaint investigations, specification clarification, process reviews, supplier/customer visits, and technical discussions; document actions and ensure commitments are followed through to closure.
• 10. Initiate, monitor and report on trials and work with Process Engineers. Define trial objectives and required quality data, coordinate sampling and testing, evaluate results with Process Engineering, and document conclusions, recommendations, and follow-up actions.
• 11. Assist with work instruction review and updates. Confirm instructions reflect current specifications, inspection/test requirements, process controls, and approved practices; identify needed revisions and support implementation of controlled updates.
• 12. Perform department set-up sheet audits. Verify required process settings, material identification, quality checks, and documentation are consistent with approved set-up requirements; document discrepancies and follow up on corrective actions.
• 13. Work with R&D on new product development. Support product and process trials by defining quality requirements, coordinating inspection/testing, reviewing results, identifying risks, and assisting with transition of approved products into routine production.
• 14. Maintain M3 specs as required. Create and update product quality attributes, specifications, tolerances, testing requirements, and revision information in M3 to ensure alignment with approved customer and internal requirements.
• 15. Monitor statistical data for product attributes. Review attribute data for trends, shifts, and excessive variation; use statistical information to identify potential issues before product becomes non-conforming and communicate findings for corrective action.
• 16. Perform any other assignments as directed by Quality Director Support additional plant quality projects, investigations, audits, and improvement activities as assigned.
• 17. Communicate quality performance to manufacturing areas to aid in corrective action and continuous improvement. Provide quality metrics, defect/return trends, recurring issue information, and corrective-action status to manufacturing teams through routine meetings and reports; support assignment and follow-up of improvement actions.
• 18. Maintain areas of responsibility in a clean, neat, and orderly manner so that the work area will reflect a safe and healthy work environment. Maintain orderly work areas, records, samples, and testing materials; follow applicable safety, housekeeping, and material-handling requirements while performing assigned duties.
• 19. Review non-conformance areas daily working with quality manager and manufacturing on corrective actions and disposition of material Verify non-conforming material is properly identified, controlled, and segregated as applicable; coordinate timely review and disposition, monitor aging material, and ensure corrective actions are initiated when recurring issues are identified.
• 20. Assist with internal and external audits. Assist with audit preparation, objective evidence collection, auditor support, responses to findings, and tracking of corrective actions to closure for internal, customer, and certification audits.
• 21. Work with lab personnel on testing and quality issues as needed Review testing requirements and results with Lab personnel, assist with troubleshooting abnormal or questionable results, coordinate repeat/confirmatory testing when appropriate, and help ensure testing supports applicable product and customer requirements.

Why Join BGF Industries?

BGF Industries offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, and the chance to build a long-term career with a company known for innovation, quality, and manufacturing excellence. Join BGF Industries and become part of a team dedicated to delivering high-quality products that meet the expectations of customers around the world.