Quality Engineer

Challenge Manufacturing; Holland (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Challenge Manufacturing in Holland, MI, is seeking a Quality Engineer for first shift to lead quality during new launches and sustain a robust Quality System. You will coordinate Safe Launch activities, assemble PPAP documentation, and be the primary contact for customer quality concerns.

Ideal candidates bring an Associate degree (BS preferred) and extensive experience in APQP, PPAP, and quality tools. This role requires on-site work at the Holland plant with a focus on continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Associate degree from a 2- or 4-year college.
• Bachelor of Science degree from a 4-year college or university preferred.
• 10 to 15 years related experience preferred.
• High standards of performance and accountability.
• Strong communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Safe Launch participation and hand-off of product requirements from APQP QE.
• Support Run at Rate and tooling buy-off; prepare PPAP documentation.
• Own plant quality concerns and serve as customer contact for complaints.
• Manage Quality System for changes after launch.
• Obtain Master Samples from initial production run for archiving.
• Update Control Plans & FMEA as issues arise.
• Provide documentation PRR/HTR and customer responses.
• Be on-site at assembly plants to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Understand part usage in vehicles and become the expert on customer expectations.
• Train quality auditors and production leaders on inspection and acceptance.
• Direct Quality Technicians to provide QC documents and floor support.
• Prioritize part improvements to address critical attributes.

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor of Science preferred

Tools

Plexus

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who We Are:

Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.

Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!

#QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Who We Want:

The Quality Engineer is responsible for conducting on going analysis of the production process inputs and output to ensure that customer (internal and external) quality requirements are being achieved

What You’ll Do:

• “Safe Launch” participant to constructively accept a detailed hand-off of product requirements from APQP QE.
• The “Safe Launch” hand-off process links the APQP QE and Current Production QE when the first MRD parts are being run. These QEs work together to obtain and complete the necessary quality system documentation, dimensional data, GP-12 support, and PTR/MRD packaging and labeling for shipment.
• Supporting the “Safe Launch” process also includes providing the plant communication linkage for a formal tooling buy-off process, including Run at Rate support and associated documentation to declare die/welder readiness for production. This is then followed by the preparation of all PPAP documentation for submission.
• Responsible for all plant level quality concerns for assigned product.
• Serve as direct point of contact for customer complaints.
• Manage Quality System for all changes after launch.
• Obtain “Master Samples” from 300-piece initial production run for Program archiving of Part Quality at start of production.
• Update Control Plans & FMEA as Issues Arise from the Floor or Customer.
• Issue Product Quality Check Deviations following direction from management.
• Provide timely acknowledgement responses to customer complaints.
• Provide formal documentation PRR/HTR, responses to the customer.
• Be a presence at the assembly plants to provide face-to-face interaction and ensure customer satisfaction while developing relationships.
• Understand how each part is utilized in the vehicle build and become the “expert” regarding what the customer expects from us as the supplier of this part.
• Provide the plant management with the “voice of the customer” and explain what key part attributes are important to manage on each part and why.
• Train plant level quality auditors and production team leaders on part-to-part concerns regarding acceptability, inspection methodology, and customer expectations.
• Direct Quality Technicians to provide supporting product quality documentation (Part Picture Visuals, Packaging Instructions, Gage Instructions, Quality Alerts, etc.), and floor support as necessary.
• Provide plant with priorities for part improvement to ensure the most important attributes are addressed first, and stress continuous improvement.
• Address plant floor quality concerns as they arise, provide timely opinions for acceptability, and be able to provide the proper decision criteria for management to direct the part disposition.
• Champion problem control meetings for customer complaints, and attendees need to be accountable for their problem control responsibilities by area managers.
• The QE should be involved in monitoring daily part quality and spend time on the floor checking parts and auditing product and process to verify that customer requirements are met.
• Participate in the layered process audits.
• Implement new methods of inspection and control when required. (i.e.: enhanced containment techniques and documentation, SPC data, scheduled CMM runs or Roamer scans, etc.)
• The QE is responsible for supporting all QSB+ and TS requirements associated with his/her assigned part responsibilities.

When and Where:

This will be a 1st shift position located at our Plant in Holland, MI.

Occasionally, this may require you to arrive early, stay late, or work on weekends, outside of our regular hours, to ensure we successfully meet customer needs, deadlines, or urgent requests.

What You Need to Have:

• Associate degree from a 2- or 4-year college
• 5 Years in related experience and/or training
• Equivalent combination of education and experience
• Bachelor of Science Degree from a 4-year college or university preferred
• 10 to 15 years related experience and/or training preferred
• Equivalent combination of education and experience preferred
• Has high standards of performance for self.
• Takes responsibility for actions, results, and mistakes.
• Is thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work.
• Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict by listening, staying focused on issue to find resolution, and monitoring progress.
• Maintains positive relationships by constructively resolving conflicts.
• Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and work relationships.
• Moves within own and/or other work areas (flexes) to support plant flow.
• Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers.
• Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of job; rotates through all job responsibilities.
• Maintains knowledge and skills to perform job effectively.
• Has ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive/objective manner; views change as learning opportunity.
• Looks for good in others; works collaboratively with others; shares information and knowledge.
• Is at work when scheduled and ensures coverage when absent; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses time wisely.
• Advance GD&T training
• Understanding of the Specific Customer Requirements
• Understanding of the PPAP Process
• Understanding of the APQP Process
• Understanding of dimensional data and the ability to analyze and make decision
• Understand problem solving and all the involved core tools
• Communication written and verbal
• Plexus
• Microsoft Office