Quality Assistant Jobs in Decatur, AL (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Quality Assurance Specialist supports LSINC's Quality Management System (QMS) and day-to-day quality assurance activities to ensure products, processes, and documentation meet customer, regulatory, and company quality requirements.

This position works closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and other functional teams to perform inspections, identify and document nonconformances, support corrective actions, maintain quality records, assist with audits, and promote continuous improvement throughout the organization.

The Quality Assurance Specialist serves as a hands-on quality resource within LSINC's manufacturing environment and plays an important role in ensuring products are manufactured and delivered in accordance with established drawings, specifications, procedures, and customer requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Quality Management System

• Support the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of LSINC's Quality Management System (QMS).
• Assist with maintaining quality procedures, work instructions, forms, inspection records, and other controlled documentation.
• Ensure quality records are complete, accurate, properly maintained, and readily available for review.
• Support compliance with applicable quality standards, customer requirements, contractual requirements, and internal procedures.
• Assist with internal, customer, supplier, and external quality audits.
• Track audit findings and assist with corrective action follow-up and closure.
• Identify opportunities to improve quality processes, documentation, and controls.

Manufacturing and Product Quality

• Perform and/or support incoming, in-process, and final inspections of materials, components, assemblies, and finished products.
• Verify products against engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, work instructions, acceptance criteria, and customer requirements.
• Document inspection results and maintain accurate inspection and quality records.
• Identify, document, and communicate nonconforming materials, components, or products.
• Support disposition and control of nonconforming material in accordance with established procedures.
• Work directly with Manufacturing and Engineering personnel to investigate and resolve quality concerns.
• Assist with first article inspections and other product verification activities as required.
• Monitor recurring production quality issues and communicate trends or concerns to appropriate personnel.

Corrective and Preventive Actions

• Participate in Root Cause Analysis activities using quality tools and methodologies such as:
  • 5 Why
  • Fishbone (Ishikawa)
  • Pareto Analysis
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• Support Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) activities from issue identification through implementation and verification.
• Assist in investigating product, process, and documentation-related nonconformances.
• Track corrective action items and follow up with responsible departments to support timely completion.
• Verify that corrective actions have been implemented and assist in evaluating their effectiveness.
• Maintain documentation related to nonconformances, root cause investigations, and corrective actions.

Supplier Quality

• Support incoming inspection and evaluation of supplier-provided materials and components.
• Document and communicate supplier-related nonconformances.
• Work with Supply Chain and Procurement personnel to resolve supplier quality issues.
• Assist with tracking supplier quality performance and recurring supplier issues.
• Support supplier corrective action requests and follow-up activities as needed.
• Participate in supplier audits or supplier quality reviews when required.

Customer Quality

• Assist with investigations involving customer complaints, product returns, warranty concerns, and other reported quality issues.
• Support containment activities when product quality concerns are identified.
• Assist in gathering documentation and objective evidence needed for customer corrective action responses.
• Help ensure customer quality concerns are documented, investigated, and addressed in a timely manner.
• Support traceability and documentation requests associated with customer or program requirements.

Continuous Improvement and Quality Metrics

• Collect, maintain, and analyze quality data related to defects, nonconformances, scrap, rework, customer complaints, supplier performance, and other quality indicators.
• Assist with preparation and maintenance of quality metrics, reports, and dashboards.
• Identify recurring quality trends and communicate opportunities for corrective action or process improvement.
• Participate in Lean Manufacturing, process improvement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Recommend practical improvements to reduce defects, rework, scrap, and process variation.
• Support efforts to improve first-pass yield, product consistency, and overall operational quality.

Cross-Functional Support

• Work collaboratively with Engineering during new product introduction, design changes, and product transitions to manufacturing.
• Provide quality support to Manufacturing personnel regarding inspection requirements, documentation, and acceptance criteria.
• Assist employees with understanding and following quality procedures and work instructions.
• Participate in cross-functional problem-solving activities involving product or process quality.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, documentation accuracy, and continuous improvement throughout LSINC.

Required Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Quality, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Two (2) or more years of quality assurance, quality control, inspection, manufacturing, or related experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience performing or supporting product inspection and quality verification activities.
• Familiarity with Quality Management Systems and controlled quality documentation.
• Experience identifying and documenting nonconforming materials or products.
• Basic knowledge of Root Cause Analysis and corrective action processes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, work instructions, and technical documentation.
• Experience using common inspection and measurement equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, government contracting, industrial equipment, or other highly technical manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 quality standards.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with First Article Inspection (FAI) processes.
• Experience using ERP or MRP systems for quality, manufacturing, inventory, or documentation activities.
• Familiarity with CAPA, supplier corrective actions, nonconformance reporting, and audit processes.
• ASQ certification or other quality-related training or certification is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of quality assurance principles and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and technical documentation.
• Ability to use inspection and measurement tools accurately and consistently.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify discrepancies and potential quality concerns.
• Ability to maintain accurate and organized quality records.
• Ability to communicate quality concerns professionally and effectively with employees at multiple levels of the organization.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and other functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and follow issues through resolution in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and escalate significant quality concerns appropriately.
• Commitment to product quality, customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to regularly stand and walk throughout the manufacturing facility.
• Ability to bend, reach, stoop, and perform inspection activities at workstations and production areas.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to visually inspect components, assemblies, workmanship, and product characteristics.
• Ability to use inspection and measurement equipment as required.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) while working in manufacturing areas.

Working Conditions

This position works in both a professional office environment and an active manufacturing facility. The employee will regularly interact with manufacturing equipment, production personnel, engineering teams, and manufactured products. Occasional travel may be required to customer locations, supplier facilities, or training events.

Success Measures

Success in the Quality Assurance Specialist role will be demonstrated through:

• Accuracy and completeness of inspection and quality records.
• Timely identification and documentation of nonconforming products and materials.
• Timely follow-up and closure of assigned corrective actions.
• Reduction of recurring defects and quality issues.
• Effective support of internal, customer, and external audits.
• Improvement in scrap, rework, and first-pass yield.
• Effective monitoring and reporting of quality metrics.
• Responsiveness to Manufacturing, Engineering, supplier, and customer quality concerns.
• Consistent adherence to LSINC quality procedures and customer requirements.
• Effective cross-functional collaboration and contribution to continuous improvement initiatives.