Assistant First Article Inspector Jobs in La Grange, IL

First Article Intake (FAI) Specialist

The First Article Intake Specialist is responsible for evaluating and approving first article samples and die strike components to ensure compliance with customer specifications, engineering drawings, quality standards, and manufacturing requirements. This role serves as a critical quality gate within the production process, verifying that tooling, materials, dimensions, finishes, and assembly methods meet all requirements before full-scale production is authorized.

Maintain a strong focus on timeliness and quality, ensuring all first articles are approved in an efficient and timely manner to avoid any delays or negative impact on production schedules.

• Review and approve first article samples prior to full production run
• Verify dimensions, materials, finishes, colors, graphics, and assembly requirements against engineering drawings and customer specifications.
• Identify non-conformances and coordinate corrective actions with production, engineering, and project teams.
• Evaluate die strike samples to ensure accuracy of tooling and production readiness.
• Verify cut lines, scoring, perforations, folds, and overall structural integrity.
• Confirm die strikes align with approved artwork, specifications, and production requirements.
• Approve or reject die strike samples and communicate required revisions.
• Collaborate with internal teams to resolve issues
• Attend all required Milestone meetings (M4/M5)

• Manufacturing Manager
• Finishing Manager
• Director of Quality
• Structural Design Manager
• Production Project Managers
• Design Team

• Complete first article inspections and approvals within 24 hours of sample receipt
• Track and manage Idle Press Time Rate
• Track and manage FAI Approval Rate

• High school diploma or equivalent; Associate degree preferred.
• Direct experience in quality inspection, manufacturing, packaging, retail display production, printing, or related industries.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and specifications.
• Experience using precision measuring instruments such as calipers, rulers, gauges, and templates.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with retail displays, POP/POS manufacturing, corrugated packaging, or fixture production.
• Knowledge of quality management systems and inspection methodologies.
• Familiarity with die-cutting processes, tooling approvals, and first article inspection procedures.
• Experience working in a fast-paced production environment.
• Bilingual in English + Spanish preferred.

• Attention to Detail
• Quality Focus
• Technical Aptitude
• Problem Solving
• Communication Skills
• Time Management
• Process Improvement Mindset
• Team Collaboration

Working conditions are in a normal office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, and stand, using hands to handle, finger, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Occasionally, the employee must crouch or kneel. The employee must occasionally exert or lift up to 20 pounds. Successful performance requires good eyesight with or without corrective lenses. Requires long periods of time working at a computer and includes phone work.

Outform Group is an equal opportunity employer. Outform Group makes employment decisions and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an applicant's or employee's race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, and local laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please notify the Outform Group Human Resources department.

Outform Group, Inc. offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) and matching contributions, HSA and FSA, leave programs, paid time off including holidays, and we continually review to align and update our benefit offerings