Quality Specialist I

Position Summary

Job Profile Summary

The Quality Specialist I supports and maintains the company's Quality Management System to ensure O-ring products consistently meet customer, regulatory, and internal quality requirements. This role works closely with the manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain teams to monitor product quality, manage, documentation, support inspections and audits, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. The Quality Coordinator plays a key role in ensuring compliance with industry standards, customer specifications, and company procedures throughout the production process.

Does not have direct reports.

Responsibilities

Job Responsibilities

* Ensures Quality Policy & Quality Objectives and Management Review Processes are in place

* Maintains effective QMS processes

* Communicates customer, regulatory, and organizational requirements to assure product quality, contract compliance and customer satisfaction

* Assist with internal audits of the quality system as related to documented procedures, work instructions, and the ISO 9001 International Standard

* Quality System Management:
Implements the performance measures necessary to effectively evaluate organizational performance and trends in product quality, services, customer satisfaction and the cost of poor quality

* Uses the results of performance evaluation to target improvement efforts

* Works directly with customers:
Manages Customer Complaints and other corrective/preventive action programs

* Quality Training:
Trains local leadership to ensure that individuals performing quality functions are trained and demonstrate the appropriate skills and performance results

* Coordinates necessary Division personnel for internal, customer, and third-party quality system audits

* Reports to Management the status of quality systems indicators such as cost of poor quality, warranty expense, scrap/standard hour cost

* Records and distributes meeting minutes

* Quality & Customer Interface:
At a local level maintains a corrective action system to analyze and correct nonconforming conditions and complaints, customer contact

* Provides support and guidance to facility personnel in the interpretation of, and compliance to the ISO 9001 International Standard

* Quality & Supplier Interface:
At a local level, provides relevant data to support larger organization in assessing supplier capabilities of new Product

* Development:
May provide support to Engineering on new product development and design review for quality/reliability issues

* May provide support to Engineering on new product development and design review for quality/reliability issues

* Participates in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process

* May assign and prioritize team member tasks

* Assist with developing and reviewing Quality Skills Matrix

* Communicates on matters requiring specialized knowledge of quality function

* Participates in audits;
Develops and coordinates corrective action procedures and plans.

Qualifications

Competencies and Skills Preferred

* Working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (QMS) such as ISO 9001 (IATF 16949 or AS9100 a plus)

* Ability to maintain and control quality documentation, procedures, and records

* Understanding of customer specifications, drawings, and standards related to elastomer products

* Experience supporting internal, customer, and third-party audits

* Knowledge of corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes

* Proficiency with dimensional inspection techniques for O-rings and rubber components

* Experience using measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, optical comparators, gauges)

* Understanding of sampling plans and inspection methods (AQL, incoming, in-process, final)

* Ability to review and interpret inspection reports and certificates of conformity

* Basic understanding of elastomer materials (e.g., N , EPDM, FKM, Silicone)

* Familiarity with rubber molding processes (compression, transfer, injection molding)

* Awareness of common O-ring defects (flash, surface imperfections, dimensional variation) per ISO 3601-3 standard

* Knowledge of process controls and variability in high-volume manufacturing

* Ability to collect, analyze, and trend quality data

* Basic knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and quality metrics ie. Cp/Cpk/Pp/Ppk

* Experience assisting with root cause analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone)

* Continuous improvement mindset focused on reducing scrap, rework, and defects

* Experience coordinating incoming inspection and supplier quality issues

* Ability to assist with supplier corrective actions

* Support for customer complaints, returns, and quality inquiries

* Clear understanding of customer quality expectations and timelines

* Strong written and verbal communication skills

* Ability to work cross-functionally with production, engineering, purchasing, and shipping

* Confidence to address quality issues on the shop floor in a professional manner

* Attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks

* Proficiency with quality…