Quality Engineer

ALPLA is a global family-owned, privately held company that creates innovative, customized, recycled packaging for leading brands such as P&G, Unilever, L'Oréal, and Pepsi. We value employees, work-life balance, personal growth, competitive compensation, and sustainability.

Benefits

• Health and wellness care program
• Child care benefits and dependent care cost savings program
• Recognition programs and promotional opportunities
• 401K retirement plan with excellent matching
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Education assistance program and tuition reimbursement
• Short-term, long-term, and life insurance paid by ALPLA
• Paid vacation and paid holidays

Responsibilities

• Support the site Integrated Management System (IMS) and Quality Assurance activities through projects and initiatives ensuring compliance with internal, customer, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide quality engineering support to operations, quality control, and continuous improvement activities.
• Promote a quality mindset within the plant.

Measurement and Test Systems

• Lead optimization of laboratory and in-line measurement and test systems to ensure accurate, reliable, and repeatable data.
• Train production and quality personnel on the proper use of measurement and test systems.
• Maintain calibration status, standards, and verification requirements for quality-related equipment.
• Monitor inline and laboratory testing through routine review of SPC and quality data to ensure data integrity and appropriate reaction.

Mold Approvals

• Lead and support mold qualification, verification, and approval activities.
• Analyze mold performance data to confirm conformance to product and customer requirements and support corrective actions as needed.

Customer & Internal Quality Issues

• Lead analysis of internal quality data and customer complaint trends to identify root causes and systemic issues.
• Review customer scorecards and support implementation of improvement actions in partnership with operations.
• Partner with production to establish and validate optimized process settings, particularly during sampling, product qualification, and process changes.
• Lead root cause analysis activities involving cross-functional teams and ensure corrective actions are data-driven and effective.

Quality System

• Support the Quality Manager in maintaining compliance with ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, and applicable regulatory and customer requirements.
• Assist in the execution of hazard analysis and risk mitigation programs, including HACCP and change management activities.
• Prepare technical inputs and support execution of internal, customer, and external audits, including follow-up on assigned actions.

Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement

• Lead and support site continuous improvement projects focused on reducing variation, improving capability, and preventing recurrence of issues.
• Apply data analysis and statistical tools to drive problem-solving and improvement initiatives.
• Support deployment and sustainment of operational excellence tools within the plant.

Performance Metrics

Performance is evaluated based on the effectiveness of technical quality leadership at the site, including:

• Measurement and test system performance, data analysis, and problem-solving activities.
• Quality of root cause analysis and effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Support of the site Quality Manager in maintaining compliance with quality and food safety system requirements.
• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, technical rigor, and sustainable improvement of product and process performance.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) include but are not limited to:

• Accuracy, reliability, and capability of measurement and test systems.
• Calibration compliance and availability of quality test equipment.
• Effectiveness and timeliness of root cause analyses and corrective actions.
• Reduction in repeat internal quality issues and customer complaints.
• Quality of data analysis used to support process optimization and product qualification.
• Support of audits and timely closure of assigned quality system actions.

Competencies

• Ensures Accountability
• Decision Quality
• Communicates Effectively
• Instills Trust
• Collaborates
• Values Differences
• Drives Results

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering preferred (other science or technical degrees considered) with 1–2 years of relevant experience preferred. Five years of related work experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
• Experience in a high-volume manufacturing or lab environment preferred.
• Work experience in Quality Assurance.
• Experience with physical lab testing equipment, calipers, scales, digital height gauges, and compression force testing equipment.
• Strong statistical skills; Six Sigma Green Belt is desirable.
• Knowledge of Project Management and experience leading projects is ideal.
• Computer proficiency (Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Word, SPC, and/or Minitab).
• Ability to work well with other departments and plants, and lead small teams.
• Able to handle a multi-task environment with excellent organizational skills.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and occasionally climb or balance.
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.
• Must act in a safe and environmentally responsible manner at all times by adhering to all ALPLA policies and procedures and Safety Standards (OSHA).