Quality Assurance Specialist

Plastic Ingenuity; Town of Mazomanie (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Plastic Ingenuity is seeking a Quality Assurance Specialist to join the production and extrusion quality team. The role focuses on supporting thermoforming operations, sustaining product quality, process consistency, and regulatory compliance through qualification activities and data-driven problem solving.

On the production floor, you will collaborate with operators, supervisors, and engineering to monitor quality, provide real-time feedback, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Associates degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfortable with data entry and basic analysis.
• Strong project management and documentation skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, design, and compliance teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Strong problem solving analytical abilities.
• Must model the highest degree of moral and ethical behavior.
• Keeps commitments; candor and courage in debate and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a consistent presence on the production floor to support quality at the source.
• Partner with operators, leads, and supervisors to ensure quality standards and specifications are understood and met.
• Provide real-time coaching and guidance on inspection methods, documentation, and quality expectations.
• Respond promptly to quality concerns raised by production or extrusion teams.
• Assist production and extrusion QC coverage when needed.
• Lead new part and job qualification activities, including running qualification studies and data collection.
• Prepare new jobs for QC checks, including development of inspection criteria.
• Support validation efforts and ensure qualification documentation meets internal and customer requirements.
• Represent Quality on PDCA and continuous improvement projects.

Skills

Detail oriented

Problem solving

Communication skills

Project management

Documentation

Microsoft Office

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Associates degree or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

QMS software

Compliance software

Job description

Company Summary:

At Plastic Ingenuity, our mission is to deliver quality products and services to our customers that will exceed their expectations and anticipate their needs. The products and insights provided by Plastic Ingenuity create meaningful impact in industries such as medical devices, food safety, and tamper evident packaging. We work as a team to maintain a strong engineering and technological focus, with an emphasis on continuous improvement. We pride ourselves on a solutions-oriented culture based on the fundamental principles of teamwork, integrity, and respect. We focus on the use of green technologies and environmentally conscious support systems to minimize our carbon footprint. As part of the team, each contribution is integral to the overall success of the company.

Role Summary:

The Quality Assurance Specialistis a hands-on member of the production and extrusion quality team, supporting thermoforming operations to ensure product quality, process consistency, and compliance with customer and regulatory requirements. This role leads product and process qualification activities, supports new job launches, and assists the Quality Manager with daily quality assurance functions.

Maintaining a consistent presence on the production floor, the Quality Assurance Specialist partners closely with operators, supervisors, engineering, and leadership to monitor quality at the source, provide real-time feedback, and support data-driven problem solving. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, effective communication, technical proficiency with inspection and SPC tools, and the ability to build trust while upholding quality standards in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Personality and Interest Profile - You may enjoy this role if you:

• Appreciate complex challenges
• Have a superior eye for detail
• Thrive on improvement and collaboration

Key Responsibilities:

1.Production FloorQualitySupport

• Maintain a consistent presence on the production floor to support quality at the source.
• Partner with operators, leads, and supervisors to ensure quality standards and specifications are understood and met.
• Provide real-time coaching and guidance on inspection methods, documentation, and quality expectations.
• Respond promptly to quality concerns raised by production or extrusion teams.
• Assistproduction and extrusion QC coverage when needed.

2.Inspection,Testing& SPC

• Perform product inspections using standard measurement equipment (calipers, micrometers, Magna-Mikes, Keyence IDMS, vision systems, etc.).
• Verify product conformance to specifications, prints, and customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain SPC programs; analyze data trends to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Document inspection results and maintain accurate, traceable quality records.
• Conduct process audits as assigned.

3.Qualification & Job Launch Activities

• Lead new part and job qualification activities, including running qualification studies and collecting required data.
• Prepare new jobs for QC checks, including developmentof inspection criteria.
• Support validation efforts and ensure qualification documentation meets internal and customer requirements.
• Represent Quality on PDCA and continuous improvement projects related toproducts or processes.

4. Nonconformance & Corrective Action

• Lead or actively participate in root cause investigation for defects and nonconforming product.
• Determine disposition of nonconforming material in alignment with company procedures and Quality Manager guidance.
• Support implementation and monitoring of corrective and preventive actions.
• Verify effectiveness of corrective actions using data-driven methods.

5. Compliance&Auditing

• Serve as an internal ISO auditorand support SQF practitioner responsibilities as assigned.
• Assistwith internal and external audits and support audit preparation activities.
• Support adherence to ISO, SQF, GMP, and other applicable regulatory or customer requirements.

6. Training & Quality Culture

• Train production employees on quality standards, inspection methods, and documentation requirements.
• Reinforcequality procedures and best practices across shifts.
• Communicate quality issues clearly, constructively, and professionally.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associates degreeor equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Officeand comfortable with data entry and basic analysis.
• Strongproject management and documentation skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionallywith operations, maintenance, design, and compliance teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Strong problem solving analytical abilities.
• Must model the highest degree of moral and ethical behavior.
• Keeps commitments; exhibits candor and courage - is not afraid to establish a visible presence and point of view, to engage in spirited and constructive debate, to hold others accountable.

Desired Qualifications:

• 1-3 years of experience in quality systems, quality assurance, or compliance within a manufacturing environment.
• Extensive familiarity with quality assurance processes and procedures.
• Experience with ERP, QMS, or compliance software systems.
• Ability toproactively identify opportunities to improve departmental processes and procedures to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Knowledge of HACCP, food defense, FDA, ISO, and GMP requirements.

Physical Demands:

• Frequent Keyboard use/data entry
• Prolonged periods of seated work