Incoming Appraiser General

About the role

The Incoming Appraisal Process includes, but is not limited to, the following activities: Identification of supplier material, Appraisal of procured material, Movement and control of material, Control of nonconforming material, Control of drawings, documentation and change notices, Maintenance and control of measuring and test equipment.

Basic Qualifications

An incoming receiving inspector in quality assurance needs a solid foundation in inspection procedures, including the ability to read and interpret purchase orders, specifications, and engineering drawings to ensure that incoming material meets the correct criteria. They must be proficient with measurement and test equipment such as calipers, micrometers, go/no‑go gauges, CMMs, surface‑finish testers, hardness testers, and basic non‑destructive testing methods, and understand statistical sampling plans like ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 or MIL‑STD‑414. Accurate documentation is essential; inspectors should be able to complete receiving inspection reports, non‑conformance reports, and traceability logs, often using electronic QMS tools such as SAP QM, Oracle e‑Business Suite, or MasterControl. Familiarity with relevant quality standards (ISO 9001, AS9100, MIL‑STD‑1913, RoHS, ITAR) and first‑article inspection processes ensures compliance with both internal and external requirements. When defects are found, the inspector must conduct basic root‑cause analysis (5‑Why, Fishbone, Pareto) and initiate corrective‑and‑preventive action (CAPA) documentation to prevent recurrence. Strong written and verbal communication skills help convey findings quickly to engineering, procurement, and production teams while maintaining professional relationships with suppliers. Safety awareness including proper handling of hazardous or delicate components, appropriate PPE, and basic lock‑out/tag‑out practices protects both personnel and product integrity. Effective time management and organization keep inspection queues flowing, ensuring timely delivery of qualified parts to the production line. Finally, a continuous‑improvement mindset, participating in Kaizen events, Gemba walks, and internal audits, and staying open to new inspection technologies drives higher accuracy, speed, and cost‑effectiveness throughout the quality assurance process.

• Stand for extended periods of time
• Kneel, squat, and bend
• Lift up to 50 pounds

Desired Skills

• Know basic statistics and how to use simple control charts (SPC).
• Be comfortable with newer measuring tools like vision‑system cameras.
• Able to work with Excel (filters, pivot tables) to track defects and trends.
• Understand how to check supplier quality and do first‑article inspections.
• Good at talking with teammates, suppliers, and solving small conflicts.
• Want to keep improving processes (participate in Kaizen or similar activities).
• Able to organize work, keep track of inspections, and meet deadlines.

Interview Questions

• Accuracy and Attention to Detail: What process do you use to make sure you don't miss any details before a project is completed?
• Analytical Ability: Describe a time when you used data to solve a problem. How did you identify which data to use and how to present them?
• Learning Agility: Tell me about the biggest mistake you have made in a project. What did you learn, and how have you applied that learning to your work since then?
• Make effective decisions: Tell me about a situation that, if