Quality Control Production Associate Jobs in Kentucky

Central Region Technical Services, a division of CR Services, LLC, provides engineering, manufacturing, and quality support for manufactured components and assemblies. We are committed to delivering high-quality products and supporting the operations we serve through strong technical expertise and a hands-on approach.

We are currently seeking an experienced Quality Control Engineer to support and strengthen inspection, supplier quality, weld quality, quality documentation, and continuous improvement efforts for manufactured components and assemblies. This position is a hands-on role for a quality professional with experience in manufacturing quality, inspection methods, welding/fabrication, ISO-based quality systems, supplier communication, non-conformance resolution, and root-cause corrective action. The Quality Control Engineer works closely with engineering, production, suppliers, and management to ensure products and components meet internal standards, customer expectations, and applicable quality requirements. This position is on-site in the Madisonville, KY area. This is not a remote position.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on quality professional who is comfortable reviewing documentation, working with suppliers, and inspecting components in a manufacturing environment. This person should be able to inspect parts, read drawings, identify quality concerns, communicate with suppliers, document issues clearly, and help drive corrective actions through completion. Comfort inspecting welds and fabricated components, and holding or working toward NDT (VT, MT, PT) and AWS CWI credentials, is central to this role. We are looking for someone who can bring practical quality experience to the team, help improve existing processes, and provide strong technical guidance on inspection and quality control practices.

Duties and Responsibilities
Perform first article inspections, incoming part inspections, and in-process quality checks.
Review parts, weldments, castings, machined components, assemblies, and supplier-provided materials for conformance to engineering-approved drawings, specifications, and quality requirements.
Develop and maintain inspection records, quality documentation, inspection criteria, sampling plans, and other applicable quality documentation.
Support root cause investigations, corrective actions, preventative actions, and continuous improvement projects.
Work with engineering and production teams to resolve non-conformances and prevent repeat quality issues.
Interface directly with suppliers regarding quality concerns, rejected material, inspection results, and corrective action follow-up.
Support ISO 9001 quality management system requirements, audits, documentation control, and process improvements.
Assist with quality planning for new or revised parts, including inspection methods, acceptance criteria, and measurement requirements.
Use precision inspection equipment such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, indicators, CMMs, and other measuring tools.
Prepare clear technical reports, inspection summaries, and quality communication for internal and external use.
Perform weld visual inspections based on AWS, ASME, or project-specific standards when relevant.
When appropriately qualified, perform or support magnetic particle testing (MT), liquid penetrant testing (PT), ultrasonic testing (UT), and other NDT methods required by the work.
Review and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, welding procedure specifications (WPS), supporting welding qualification documents, and applicable industry codes and standards.
Perform and/or coordinate inspections of hand and robotically welded components before, during, and after welding to verify conformance to drawings, weld symbols, specifications, approved welding procedures, and applicable requirements.
Identify and document weld defects or unacceptable discontinuities, communicate findings clearly, and work with engineering, welding technicians, and production personnel to determine root causes and appropriate corrective actions.
Verify completed repairs or rework through the applicable inspection method and document final acceptance or remaining concerns.
Coordinate with outside NDT resources when needed.
Follow and support all company safety policies, OSHA regulations, and job site environmental procedures.

Qualifications & Competencies
Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in quality control, quality engineering, inspection, supplier quality, NDT, welding/fabrication, or a closely related quality or manufacturing role required; 5 or more years preferred.
NDT certification to ASNT SNT-TC-1A (or NAS 410) Level II in one or more methods (VT, MT, PT) preferred; candidates with the ability to obtain certification will be considered.
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) preferred, or Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI) with the ability to obtain CWI.
Working knowledge of AWS, ASME, or comparable weld codes (e.g., API), with the ability to interpret welding procedure specifications (WPS) and welding qualification documents.
Familiarity with robotic or automated welding systems and weld data/tracking software is a plus.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, technical drawings, tolerances, inspection methods, and quality documentation.
Experience with ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems.
Experience with root cause and corrective action tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams, corrective action reports, and non-conformance tracking.
Working knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC), sampling plans, and inspection criteria.
Ability to communicate effectively with engineering, production, suppliers, and management.
Strong attention to detail and the ability to make sound quality decisions.
Experience with CMM inspection or CMM programming is a plus.
ASQ certification, lead auditor experience, or supplier quality experience is a plus.
Degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred; equivalent hands-on experience will be considered.

Schedule
Full-time, in-person position.
Monday through Friday, standard business hours.
Occasional overtime or schedule adjustments may be required based on project or production needs.

Working Conditions
Work takes place in a combination of office, inspection lab, and manufacturing/shop floor settings.
The employee is regularly exposed to work near large moving machinery and manufacturing operations.
Employees are provided with and required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, steel-toe shoes, and hearing protection as required in shop and production areas.

Physical Requirements
The employee is regularly required to stand for long periods and to bend, stoop, kneel, or crouch to access welds and components, including in tight or elevated spaces. The employee may need to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
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.

Compensation
Final compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, certifications, and demonstrated ability.

Benefits
First day coverage of all benefits no waiting period
Premium-free medical, dental, and vision insurance a working spouse must take single major medical at their place of employment if offered
Health clinic access at nearby facilities
Basic Life insurance (2x annual base salary at no cost)
Optional Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance (no cost)
401(k) Plan with up to an 8% company match
FSA for Health Care and Dependent Care
11 paid annual holidays plus vacation time
Educational Reimbursement Program
Certification and recertification support (e.g., AWS CWI and NDT method renewals)
Scholarship Program
Work Location
Madisonville, KY area in person.
Travel is expected to be minimal.
Equal Opportunity Statement
CR Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.