Job Description
Job Description
Job Title: Quality Technician/Inspector - 1st Shift Mon-Fri 7am-3pm
Industry: Plastics Manufacturing
On-site Location: Montgomery, AL
Relocation Provided: Possibly
Pay Range: $24+++ depending on experience, Great Benefits Package
Job Overview:
The QA Technician/Inspector is responsible for supporting production quality through inspections, testing, and containment activities to ensure all products meet customer, regulatory, and internal standards. This role is highly hands-on and floor-oriented, requiring direct interaction with production processes in a fast-paced, high-volume automotive injection molding environment.
The position plays a critical role in maintaining process stability, ensuring cosmetic and dimensional compliance (including Class A surfaces), and supporting continuous improvement initiatives. Success in this role requires strong problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently under pressure while adapting to evolving business needs.
Minimum Requirements:
- 2+ years performing hands-on quality inspections in an automotive/plastic injection molding manufacturing environment
- Independently perform first-piece, in-process, and final inspections against drawings, specifications, and control plans
- Identify molding defects such as warpage, sink marks, flash, short shots, discoloration, and surface defects; explain likely causes and appropriate escalation
- Hands-on use of calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and other precision inspection equipment
- Independently investigate production quality problems, identify potential root causes, and coordinate containment and corrective actions
- Maintain inspection records, quality reports, control charts, and traceability information
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, tolerances, and GD&T
- Comfortable working directly with operators, supervisors, and process engineers in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated ownership of quality issues beyond communicating instructions or reporting problems to a manager
- Experience with PPAP and customer-specific requirements
- Exposure to automated manufacturing environments (robotics, EOAT, integrated systems)
- Familiarity with SPC and quality systems (IATF 16949, ISO standards)
- Willingness to be flexible and grow with the business
Responsibilities:
Inspection and Testing
- Perform incoming, in-process, and final inspections per control plans
- Conduct dimensional inspections using precision measurement tools
- Perform detailed cosmetic inspections for Class A surfaces (e.g., gloss, flow lines, sink, weld lines)
- Complete first article inspections and support PPAP documentation
- Verify material certifications and traceability
Production Support
- Support production startups and first-piece validation
- Monitor quality trends and escalate deviations quickly
- Work closely with production, engineering, and supervision teams
- Lead or assist in containment activities, including sorting and rework
- Support corrective actions to prevent defect recurrence
Documentation and Compliance
- Record inspection results and maintain accurate quality documentation
- Update logs, control charts, and reports
- Support internal and customer audits
- Ensure compliance with IATF 16949 and related standards
- Maintain the calibration status of inspection equipment
Root Cause & Continuous Improvement
- Participate in root cause analysis (8D, 5 Why, Fishbone)
- Support the implementation of corrective and preventive actions
- Analyze scrap and defect trends to drive improvements
- Promote adherence to quality standards across production
Customer Support
- Assist with customer submissions, including PPAP packages
- Support investigation and response to customer complaints
- Participate in customer visits and audits as required