Process Quality Engineer

Actalent; Illinois; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Process Quality Engineer to manage customer complaints, improve defect detection, and support product and process optimization. You will lead root-cause investigations, drive CAPAs, and collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Operations to meet quality objectives.

The role emphasizes PPAP/APQP involvement, data analysis, and continuous improvement within an elastomeric material solutions environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field.
• At least 1 year of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and IATF-based quality system standards.
• Working knowledge of statistical software such as Minitab, Infinity, JMP, or equivalent tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Project.
• Working knowledge of total quality tools such as brainstorming, flowcharting, Ishikawa, and affinity diagrams.
• Demonstrated knowledge of statistical process control (SPC), design of experiments (DOE), ANOVA, f-test and t-test analyses, and GR&R.
• Strong understanding of process capability studies and Cp/Cpk interpretation.
• Ability to identify process shortcomings through data analysis and develop practical recommendations.
• Experience in troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience working in quality engineering, quality assurance, or quality control within manufacturing.
• Familiarity with PPAP and APQP processes.
• Strong communication skills to interact with manufacturing, suppliers, and customers.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a cross-functional product team.

Responsibilities

• Improve manufacturing yield by conducting studies to stabilize, validate, and enhance product and process capabilities.
• Perform process capability studies to identify issues, recommend solutions, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Analyze defective products and processes to determine root causes and provide input on corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
• Implement solutions that increase yield and overall process robustness.
• Conduct internal and external audits on products and processes to ensure compliance with customer, internal, and regulatory specifications.
• Review and approve work instructions, inspection documents, change notifications, and quality alerts to maintain accurate and effective documentation.
• Manage customer complaints by leading root cause investigations using 8D or similar structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, and customers to drive improvement activities and ensure products and processes meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Lead corrective action and data reporting activities to ensure timely resolution of quality issues and prevent reoccurrence.
• Support Engineering in the qualification of new products, processes, and equipment through data collection, analysis, and documentation.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of IATF-based quality system standards and related quality system requirements.
• Provide product characteristic studies and generate Cp/Cpk reports on key product characteristics (KPCs) and critical characteristics (KcCCs).
• Use statistical tools such as SPC, DOE, ANOVA, and GR&R to evaluate process performance and measurement system capability.
• Identify process shortcomings through data analysis and provide clear, data-driven recommendations for improvement.
• Participate as an active member of the quality team, collaborating with quality engineers, technicians, and other team members to meet quality and business objectives.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including troubleshooting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and lean manufacturing activities.
• Support preparation and execution of PPAP and APQP activities as required by customers and internal processes.
• Assist with or participate in quality system audits aligned with recognized standards.

Skills

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Root cause analysis

Statistical methods (SPC/DOE/ANOVA)

Cp/Cpk interpretation

Problem solving

Lean manufacturing

PPAP/APQP knowledge

Data-driven decision making

Quality engineering experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field

Tools

Minitab

Infinity

JMP

MS Office

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description: Process Quality Engineer

The Process Quality Engineer enhances customer satisfaction by managing customer complaints, improving defect detection, and supporting the correction and optimization of products and processes. This role supervises the development, implementation, and verification of products and processes to ensure they meet internal, customer, and third-party quality and regulatory requirements. The Process Quality Engineer works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Operations to drive continuous improvement, ensure quality objectives are achieved, and actively contributes as a key member of an integrated product line team within an elastomeric material solutions business.

Responsibilities

• Improve manufacturing yield for existing products by conducting studies to stabilize, validate, and enhance product and process capabilities.
• Perform process capability studies to identify issues, recommend solutions, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Analyze defective products and processes to determine root causes of defects and provide input on corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
• Implement solutions that increase yield and overall process robustness.
• Conduct internal and external audits on products and processes to ensure compliance with customer, internal, and regulatory specifications.
• Review and approve work instructions, inspection documents, change notifications, and quality alerts to maintain accurate and effective documentation.
• Manage customer complaints by leading root cause investigations using 8D or similar structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, and customers to drive improvement activities and ensure products and processes meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Lead corrective action and data reporting activities to ensure timely resolution of quality issues and prevent reoccurrence.
• Support Engineering in the qualification of new products, processes, and equipment through data collection, analysis, and documentation.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of IATF-based quality system standards and related quality system requirements.
• Provide product characteristic studies and generate Cp/Cpk reports on key product characteristics (KPCs) and critical characteristics (KcCCs).
• Use statistical tools such as SPC, DOE, ANOVA, and GR&R to evaluate process performance and measurement system capability.
• Identify process shortcomings through data analysis and provide clear, data-driven recommendations for improvement.
• Participate as an active member of the quality team, collaborating with quality engineers, technicians, and other team members to meet quality and business objectives.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including troubleshooting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and lean manufacturing activities.
• Support preparation and execution of PPAP and APQP activities as required by customers and internal processes.
• Assist with or participate in quality system audits aligned with recognized standards.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field.
• At least 1 year of experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and IATF-based quality system standards.
• Working knowledge of statistical software such as Minitab, Infinity, JMP, or equivalent tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Project.
• Working knowledge of total quality tools such as brainstorming, flowcharting, Ishikawa (fishbone) diagram analysis, and affinity diagrams.
• Demonstrated knowledge of statistical process control (SPC), design of experiments (DOE), ANOVA, f-test and t-test analyses, and gauge repeatability and reproducibility (GR&R).
• Strong understanding of process capability studies and the ability to interpret and communicate Cp and Cpk results.
• Ability to identify process shortcomings through data analysis and develop practical recommendations for improvement.
• Ability to perform product characteristic studies and generate Cp/Cpk reports on key and critical characteristics.
• Experience in troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Experience working in quality engineering, quality assurance, or quality control within a manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with PPAP and APQP processes.
• Strong communication skills to interact effectively with manufacturing, suppliers, and customers.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a cross-functional product l