Mechanical Quality Inspector

About the Role

The Quality Inspector ensures materials and products conform to blueprint specifications and maintains company and customer quality standards for industrial processes, materials, and products.

Responsibilities

• Measure parts using various instruments and gauges for receiving inspection, first article inspection, and final inspection.
• Identify defects or discrepancies and report them to the Quality Manager.
• Adhere to all safety procedures, including wearing safety glasses, shoes, ear protection, and following lifting guidelines.
• Operate production equipment and testing, measurement, and analytical tools with precision and accuracy.
• Follow procedures for disposition of discrepant material (e.g., DMR/RMA process).
• Compute unspecified dimensions and variances as needed.
• Direct workers engaged in measuring and testing products when required.
• Tabulate data concerning materials, product, or process quality and part reliability.
• Verify accuracy of gauges and measuring instruments; report discrepancies to the Quality Manager.
• Check parts against blueprint specifications, including dimensions and tolerances (GD&T).
• Compare products with parts lists or sample models to ensure completion of assembly.
• Use statistical process control techniques as required.
• Perform daily data entry or inquiries in an ERP system (e.g., Epicor) following company guidelines.
• Reject defective parts and document defects on proper paperwork or tags.
• Read blueprints and Job Travelers for dimensions, tolerances, work center details, and finished operations.
• Follow Prince quality certifications (e.g., ISO) relevant to the position.
• Complete job-related paperwork (e.g., tags, inspection reports) concisely and timely.
• Transport finished materials manually or using a pallet jack to designated areas.
• Maintain good housekeeping in the work area.
• Collaborate effectively with department personnel and co-workers to meet company goals.
• Work in the shop on production or directly with shop personnel as instructed by the Quality Manager.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor, including department transfers to meet production needs.

Requirements

• Ability to recognize and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Effective oral and written communication skills for interacting with supervisors and all levels within the company.
• Ability to comprehend and follow simple oral or written instructions.
• Advanced math skills relevant to a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints (e.g., assembly, production).
• Knowledge of standard concepts, practices, and procedures in inspection and quality control.
• Excellent understanding of company quality and production standards.
• Familiarity with relevant ISO procedures.
• Proficiency in using basic inspection measurement equipment (e.g., calipers, micrometers, height gauges, comparators, thread gauges, plug gauges, indicators, handheld CMM).
• Attention to detail for visual inspection and recognizing discrepancies in parts or blueprints.
• Basic computer skills in Microsoft Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Previous experience, apprenticeship, or formal training desired.
• More than 3 years of experience in the inspection field or related machine operation.
• Degree or certification in a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated experience using GD&T principles to measure and assign appropriate gauges for workpieces.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to sit, stand, or walk for the duration of an 8-10 hour shift.
• Frequently required to talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, or bend.
• Regularly lift, push, or pull up to 20 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required, including close vision (20/20 or corrected to 20/20).
• Occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, or airborne particles from metalworking coolants and oils.
• Noise levels in the work environment may be loud, requiring hearing protection.