Quality Engineer - Customer Complaints

Full Job Description

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $1.5B in revenue, and employ approximately 7,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer:

• Flexible time off policy
• 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options
• Opportunities for career advance with an industry leading company!

We are seeking a Quality Engineer at our headquarters in Duncan, SC. The Quality Engineer (QE) will be a key contributor to creating and sustaining a data-driven, closed-loop quality system and the efficient management and continuous improvement of the quality system and key business processes.

The QE will maintain management system procedures, analyze production and quality data to identify trends and drive problem solving efforts, conduct process/product audits to determine acceptability of quality process controls, support external audits, issue and monitor Corrective and Preventative Action plans and activities to closure, including objective evidence of effectiveness. This person will be diligent in applying their engineering skills and experience, driven by data and facts, and comfortable leading teams of operators, technicians, and engineers through projects and problem-solving exercises.

The QE will be a member of the quality team, reporting to the Quality Manager, and will be accountable for delivering tangible results in support of business plan objectives by implementing improvements, supporting new product industrialization, improving capacity utilization, and managing continuous improvement efforts.

Responsibilities

• Identify non-conformances and opportunities for improvement, applying six-sigma and DMAIC methodology to create a data-driven improvement cycle throughout the production environment.
• Lead the investigation of customer complaints using the 8D or other Problem Solving Methodology.
• Document process/product non-conformities, and follow-up on corrective actions. Initiate actions to prevent the occurrence of non-conformities related to product, processes, and quality system. Verify, or participate in the verification of, implemented solutions.

• Ensure usage of the existing non-conformance reporting system for efficient non-conformance management.

• Perform internal audits of critical operational processes.
• Develop and manage control plans for manufacturing process.
• Interact with customers on technical and quality related topics or issues.
• Lead, participate, and support cross-functional project teams to increase productivity, reduce waste, improve quality, and enhance safety.
• Track and prepare reports for internal quality performance metrics.
• Participate in development of policies and procedures to continuously improve the quality system.
• Participate in the maintenance of ISO 9001 registration and any other quality system requirements.
• Adhere to and promote the environmental, health & safety policies of AFL.
• Perform other duties as requested, directed or assigned.

Personal Qualities

• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem solving skills with a highly-oriented process approach.
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to work well with others in both one-on-one relationships as well as group activities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Results-oriented professional able to solve complex problems and implement change.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Quality Management or related Engineering field
• 5+ years’ experience in a manufacturing environment as a process, quality, or project engineer.

• Demonstrated ability in process-based auditing, root cause analysis, problem solving, and process improvement techniques.
• ASQ certification (SSBB, CQE, CQM and/or CQA) is preferred.
• Ability to distinguish successful, closed-loop quality systems from those that create risk due to fundamental system weaknesses.
• Ability to conduct informative, process-based audits based upon a thorough understanding of quality system requirements.
• Strong in Microsoft Office and statistical analysis software.

Working Conditions

• Normal office/manufacturing environment.
• Able to support off-shift and/or weekend operations.
• Able to travel up to 10%.

#LI-AW

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)