QA/QC Specialist-Lead

Plastomatic Valves, Inc.; Cedar Grove (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Job summary

Plast-O-Matic Valves, Inc. is seeking a QA/QC Specialist Lead to actively lead daily quality operations on the manufacturing floor.

You will inspect and test components, investigate defects, and drive root-cause analysis and practical corrective actions to uphold customer requirements and internal standards. The role emphasizes hands-on quality leadership, continuous improvement of the Quality Management System, and collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Technical Sales

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in quality management, engineering, manufacturing, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily QA/QC activities across manufacturing and assembly operations.
• Maintain and continuously improve the company’s Quality Management System, including ISO 9001 requirements.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Assembly, Purchasing, and Technical Sales to maintain product quality and ensure customer requirements are met.
• Perform inspections and testing to verify product conformity on the manufacturing floor.
• Investigate nonconformances, drive corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.
• Coordinate internal audits and support external audits by customers and registrars.
• Track quality performance metrics and translate data into improvements.
• Train and coach employees on inspection techniques and quality procedures.

Skills

QA/QC

Manufacturing floor

Root-cause analysis

Inspection methods

Statistical thinking

Communication

Documentation control

Education

Bachelor's degree

Quality management

Engineering background

Tools

ERP systems

Document control

MS Office

Job description

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance

Reports To:

Director of Engineering

Position Summary:

Plast-O-Matic is a performance leader in the development and manufacture of plastic valves and valve controls.

The QA/QC Specialist Lead is a direct quality leadership position combining daily involvement in manufacturing quality activities with responsibility for maintaining and continuously improving the company's Quality Management System.

This position requires a visible presence on the manufacturing floor and a willingness to work directly with production employees, technicians, and engineers to inspect and test products, investigate defects, identify root causes, and implement practical solutions.

The successful candidate will lead by example, promote quality ownership throughout the organization, and ensure that products meet customer requirements, internal specifications, and applicable quality-system and regulatory requirements.

This is not a purely administrative or supervisory position. Success requires active participation in daily quality operations while supporting long-term quality improvements.

Basic Job Function

• Lead and coordinate daily Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities across manufacturing and assembly operations.
• Maintain and continuously improve the company’s Quality Management System, including applicable ISO 9001 requirements.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Assembly, Purchasing, and Technical Sales to maintain product quality, resolve issues, and ensure compliance with established standards and customer requirements.

Essential Functions:

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Daily Quality Operations

• Maintain a regular and active presence on the manufacturing and assembly floor.
• Personally perform and oversee incoming, in-process, and final inspections of purchased components, materials, assemblies, and finished products.
• Collaborate directly with operators, technicians, and engineers to identify defects, evaluate process conditions, and address quality issues.
• Perform product testing and use inspection and measurement equipment as required to verify product conformity.
• Identify, document, and coordinate the containment of nonconforming materials and products to prevent unintended use or shipment.
• Escalate significant quality concerns and recommend appropriate quality holds or production actions when necessary.
• Ensure inspection activities are performed in accordance with applicable drawings, specifications, procedures, and customer requirements.

Quality Management System (QMS)

• Lead the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the company's Quality Management System.
• Maintain applicable ISO 9001 requirements, controlled procedures, work instructions, and quality records.
• Develop and maintain practical inspection plans, acceptance criteria, test methods, and sampling approaches.
• Coordinate internal audits and support external, customer, registrar, and regulatory audits.
• Coordinate audit and surveillance activities associated with SGS and CSA certifications, including documentation preparation, auditor requests, findings, and corrective-action follow-up.
• Track and coordinate the resolution of audit findings and quality-system deficiencies, ensuring required follow-up is completed.
• Maintain accurate and organized quality documentation, including inspection records, test reports, nonconformance reports, corrective actions, and calibration records.

Nonconformance, Corrective Action, and Continuous Improvement

• Investigate nonconformances, scrap, rework, and recurring manufacturing process issues.
• Apply appropriate root-cause analysis methods, including 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, and other problem-solving tools.
• Coordinate corrective and preventive actions and verify their effectiveness.
• Work with Manufacturing and Assembly to improve process capability, reduce scrap, and rework, and prevent defects at their source.
• Monitor quality trends and identify opportunities for process and product improvement.
• Track quality performance metrics and translate data into practical, measurable improvements.

RMA and Customer Quality Support

• Manage the technical and inspection aspects of the Return Material Authorization (RMA) process.
• Investigate returned products, identify failure odes, and root causes, and collaborate with technical Sales on appropriate resolutions and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Technical Sales to document unique RMA cases, findings, and resolutions in the company Knowledge Base.
• Respond to quality-related customer and internal inquiries with timely, fact-based investigations and clear communication.
• Support customer audits and customer corrective‑action requests, including containment, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and follow‑up.

Engineering and Manufacturing Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering on product development, engineering changes (ECNs), validation activities, test methods, and documentation updates.
• Review drawings, specifications, and product requirements to support inspection and testing activities.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Assembly to establish practical process controls and prevent recurring defects.
• Support product and process changes by ensuring appropriate quality requirements and verification activities are addressed.

Supplier Quality

• Collaborate directly with suppliers and the purchasing department to investigate and resolve supplier quality issues.
• Review supplier corrective actions and verify that appropriate solutions have been implemented.
• Support supplier qualification, performance monitoring, and improvement activities.
• Help ensure purchased materials and components meet established specifications and quality requirements.

Product and Material Compliance

• Maintain and monitor product and material compliance status for applicable REACH, RoHS, TSCA, and PFAS requirements.
• Coordinate the collection and review of supplier declarations, material disclosures, test reports, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain current compliance records and work with Engineering, Purchasing, suppliers, and customers to address regulatory changes or identified gaps.

Training and Quality Leadership

• Train and coach employees at the point of work on inspection techniques, quality procedures, documentation, and defect prevention.
• Promote employee awareness and accountability for product quality throughout manufacturing and assembly operations.
• Provide guidance and support to quality personnel and other employees involved in inspection and testing activities.
• Establish and communicate quality objectives and monitor performance against defined targets.
• Provide management with updates on significant quality issues, recurring problems, audit results, customer complaints, and improvement initiatives.
• Balance daily hands‑on problem‑solving with longer‑term quality‑system development and continuous improvement activities.

General Requirements

• Follow established safety practices, company policies, and applicable procedures.
• Perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.
• This job description describes the general scope and level of work and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties or responsibilities. Responsibilities may be modified as business needs require.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in quality management, engineering, manufacturing, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Several years of progressive QA/QC experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with engineered products, valves, plastics, or industrial components is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work directly on the manufacturing floor, perform or support inspections and testing, and resolve production quality problems.
• Experience maintaining or improving a documented Quality Management System, preferably aligned with ISO 9001.
• Working knowledge of inspection methods, measurement equipment, calibration systems, test documentation, and nonconformance management.
• Experience with root‑cause analysis and corrective‑action tools, including 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, and corrective/preventive action systems.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials, and product or process documentation.
• Strong analytical and statistical critical thinking skills, including the ability to interpret trends and develop meaningful quality metrics.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality documentation or data‑management systems; ERP or document‑control system experience is an advantage.
• Excellent communication, organization, judgment, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to prioritize urgent manufacturing‑floor issues while advancing longer‑term quality improvements.
• Able to lift 50 lbs. or more.
• Management has the right to change duties as see fit.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting customer audits, third‑party certification audits, and supplier quality programs.
• Familiarity with plastics manufacturing, machining, assembly processes, pressure or flow testing, and product performance verification.
• Training or certification in quality auditing, statistical process control, Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous‑improvement methods.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Nonconformance, scrap, and rework rates.
• Customer complaints and returns, including response and closure time.
• Corrective‑action completion and verified effectiveness.
• Supplier defect rates and supplier corrective‑action performance.
• Audit findings, overdue actions, and quality‑system compliance.
• Calibration and inspection-record completion rates.
• Progress against established quality objectives and continuous improvement initiatives.

Working Relationships

• Works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Assembly, Purchasing, Technical Sales, suppliers, and customers as needed.
• The position requires regular direct interaction with production employees and a willingness to address day‑to‑day quality issues while maintaining responsibility for the broader quality system.