Quality Lab Specialist

FurstStaffing; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Stable 1st shift

Small-team environment

Growth within quality dept

Hands-on manufacturing

Job summary

FurstStaffing is seeking a Quality Lab Specialist for the first shift in a family-owned, ISO-certified fastener manufacturing environment. The role supports daily quality lab functions, product inspection, documentation, and calibration while collaborating with production and other departments to resolve quality issues.

Growth into higher-level quality responsibilities is available as you gain experience and technical skills.

Qualifications

• Experience in fastener manufacturing or similar precision components.
• Ability to read and interpret prints, specifications, and quality requirements.
• Familiarity with PPAP, APQP, FMEA, control plans, or ISO documentation.

Responsibilities

• Perform dimensional and visual inspections on raw material, in-process parts, customer samples, and finished fasteners.
• Use micrometers, calipers, ring gauges, pin gauges, optical comparators, thread gauges, and other inspection equipment.
• Inspect parts according to customer prints, specifications, quality procedures, and internal requirements.
• Accept or reject product based on written standards and inspection results.
• Conduct routine production line checks throughout the facility.
• Review production records for accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain inspection records, quality logs, software entries, and required documentation.
• Support lot traceability, retain samples, customer sample testing, and finished goods documentation.
• Assist with nonconforming material, quality alerts, customer complaints, corrective actions, and returned goods.
• Help investigate root cause and support containment, corrective action, and verification activities.
• Support gage calibration, inventory, certification tracking, and measurement control records.

Skills

Hands-on inspection

Print interpretation

Documentation

Multitasking

Team communication

Education

No degree required

Tools

Gage calibration

Optical comparators

Measuring tools

PPAP/APQP knowledge

Job description

• Strong hands-on inspection experience

The role is a hands-on Quality Lab Specialist on the first shift in a family-owned, ISO-certified fastener manufacturing company. The specialist supports daily quality lab functions, product inspection, documentation, and calibration, while collaborating with production and other departments to identify and resolve quality issues. The position offers growth into higher-level quality responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform dimensional and visual inspections on raw material, in-process parts, customer samples, and finished fasteners
• Use micrometers, calipers, ring gages, pin gages, optical comparators, thread gages, and other inspection equipment
• Inspect parts according to customer prints, specifications, quality procedures, and internal requirements
• Accept or reject product based on written standards and inspection results
• Conduct routine production line checks throughout the facility
• Review production records for accuracy and completeness
• Maintain inspection records, quality logs, software entries, and required documentation
• Support lot traceability, retain samples, customer sample testing, and finished goods documentation
• Assist with nonconforming material, quality alerts, customer complaints, corrective actions, and returned goods
• Help investigate root cause and support containment, corrective action, and verification activities
• Support gage calibration, inventory, certification tracking, and measurement control records
• Work closely with production, engineering, shipping, customer service, and management to resolve quality concerns

Qualifications

• Experience in fastener, screw, cold heading, cold forming, or precision component manufacturing
• Strong hands-on inspection experience
• Ability to read and interpret prints, specifications, and quality requirements
• Familiarity with threaded fasteners, dimensional inspection, gages, and customer-specific requirements
• Working knowledge of PPAP, APQP, FMEA, control plans, capability studies, corrective actions, or ISO documentation
• Experience with gage calibration or gage management
• Strong attention to detail and good documentation habits
• Ability to communicate clearly with production, quality, management, customers, and vendors
• Ability to work independently, stay organized, and manage multiple priorities
• Willingness to learn, improve processes, and grow within the quality department
• No degree required; relevant manufacturing and fastener experience is valued

Preferred Skills

• Experience in fastener, screw, cold heading, cold forming, or precision component manufacturing strongly preferred

Benefits

• Competitive pay based on experience
• Stable 1st shift schedule
• Small-team environment where your work matters
• Opportunity to grow into higher-level quality responsibilities
• Hands-on manufacturing environment
• Long-term career opportunity with a family-owned company