Quality Engineer

Lou-Rich Inc.; Albert Lea, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lou-Rich Inc. in Minnesota seeks a Quality Program Specialist to develop systems and documentation ensuring products meet all contractual and program quality requirements.

You will participate in design, manufacturing, and test reviews, provide analysis on quality performance, and drive corrective actions with cross‑functional teams. You will establish program quality plans, support prototypes, and interface with customers to address quality concerns while maintaining compliance with PPAP, APQP,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering or related field preferred.
• Experience reviewing design, manufacturing and test documentation.
• Ability to develop program quality plans and PPAP/APQP processes.
• Experience reviewing customer or contractual documentation for requirements.
• Strong communication and problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Review design, manufacturing, and test docs for applicable requirements.
• Analyze program quality performance and initiate corrective actions.
• Develop program-specific quality and test philosophies.
• Review customer documentation to ensure requirements are fulfilled.
• Provide interface and support to customer quality concerns.
• Maintain the program quality system plan and related documentation.
• Support prototype development to ensure quality documentation compliance.
• Dispositon discrepant material to maintain quality and adherence to requirements.
• Perform tasks such as FAI, PFMEA, APQP, SPC to ensure program compliance.
• Establish and maintain a program quality reporting system.

Skills

Negotiation

Big-picture understanding

Computer skills

GD&T

Lean background

Communication

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering or related field

Associate degree with 3 years quality experience in manufacturing

Tools

Inspection Expert

Minitab

PiWeb

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Innovance, Inc.

Innovance is the holding company for a family of five, 100% employee-owned, Midwest-based manufacturing companies (Lou-Rich, ALMCO, Panels Plus, Mass Finishing, Jorgensen). Our mission is to lead, nurture, and grow a team of industrial manufacturing companies committed to making our OEM customers’ products better.

About Lou-Rich

Lou-Rich is a fully integrated contract manufacturer specializing in complex projects. We provide precision machining, metal fabrication, assembly, and sourcing solutions to a variety of industries, including some of North America’s largest OEMs. Companies of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to small, fast-growing operations trust Lou-Rich with their most vital and complex manufacturing projects.

Position Description:

Develop systems and documentation for specific programs that ensure that products and services provided meet all contractual and program quality requirements.

Essential Functions:

• Participates in the review of design, manufacturing, and test documentation to ensure that applicable program or contract quality requirements are met.
• Reviews the program quality performance to provide analysis and obtains corrective actions where necessary.
• Participates in the generation of program-specific quality and test philosophies to ensure compliance with company and customer requirements.
• Participates in the review of customer or contractual documentation (including proposals) to identify and ensure fulfillment of requirements.
• Provides interface and support to customer quality concerns to facilitate responsiveness to customers.
• Establishes and maintains the program quality system plan and documentation to ensure compliance with program requirements.
• Provides technical and advisory support to the prototype area to ensure the development of products in a manner that produces a quality system and documentation which will provide adherence to customer requirements.
• Dispositions discrepant material in a manner that ensures product quality and adherence to program requirements.
• Performs program-specific tasks as required (e.g., customer-required First Article Inspection, PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, SPC, Qualification Test Failure Analysis, etc.) to ensure compliance to individual program requirements.
• Devises, establishes, and maintains a reporting system for program quality to provide visibility internally and for the customer.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering or related subject is desired. Associate degree with three years of quality experience in a manufacturing setting is acceptable
• Effective negotiator with track record of accomplishment
• Understanding of company/manufacturing big picture and objectives
• Computer skills and experience (Microsoft Office Suite, Inspection Expert, Minitab, PiWeb, etc.)
• Working knowledge of GD&T
• Lean Background a plus
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and electronic)
• Ability to work in a team setting
• Attention to detail, well organized and self-motivated

These descriptions reflect the principal functions of the job for the purpose of job evaluation. It should not be construed as a detailed description of all work requirements of the job nor shall be construed as giving exclusive responsibility for every function described.

Lou-Rich Training Requirement:

• Applicable training will be completed by following the syllabi (Human Resources, Safety, IFS - Timeclock, IFS - Navigation, ISO) for each new hire and that will be verified by the Employee Orientation & Job Qualification form within the first 60 days of employment.
• Applicable training will be completed by following the Quality Training Matrix in Lou-Rich’s LMS. Effectiveness of training guidelines will be determined by employee knowledge and demonstration of learned concepts. Additional training after the first several weeks of on-the-job training will be determined by the Supervisor in preparation for operating on their own as needed. Any follow-up training will be evaluated and provided at the 60-day review or as deemed necessary for the position.
• ISO Audit training.
• Standard Manufacturing Process validation techniques.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands or fingers and talk and hear.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those and employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you have a right to request that the Authority make reasonable accommodations to help you accomplish your work, which must still be performed in all essential functions.