Quality Assurance Engineer at Dimar Manufacturing – Clarence, New York

Job Summary

The Quality Engineer is responsible for supporting manufacturing operations by ensuring products meet customer specifications, engineering requirements, and internal quality standards. This role focuses on PPAP processing, process improvement, root cause analysis, inspection planning, inspection documentation, and quality system support in a custom fabrication environment that includes cutting, forming, welding, machining, coating, and assembly.

The Quality Engineer works closely with production, engineering, suppliers, and customers to resolve quality issues, reduce defects, and maintain compliance with the company's Quality Management System (QMS) and customer requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Process & Product Quality

• Assist in developing and maintaining inspection plans, control plans, and quality documentation for manufactured parts.
• Support first article inspections (FAI) and validation of new or revised products.
• Review engineering drawings, GD&T callouts, weld symbols, and tolerances to ensure manufacturability and inspection capability.
• Provide technical support for dimensional inspections using calipers, micrometers, height gauges, optical systems, CMM, or other metrology equipment.
• Assist production with in-process inspection methods and acceptance criteria.
• Assist with PPAP processing and documentation packages, including PFMEAs, FMEAs, Process Flow Diagrams, Controls Plans.

Nonconformance & Corrective Action

• Investigate internal and external nonconformances (NCRs).
• Perform root cause analysis using tools such as:
  • 5 Why
  • 8D
• Lead Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Assist Engineering and Production in implementing and monitoring process improvements to reduce scrap, rework, and customer complaints.

Manufacturing Process Support

• Evaluate fabrication processes including:
  • Laser cutting / punching
  • Press brake forming
  • Welding
  • Machining
  • Powder coating / finishing
  • Assembly
• Identify opportunities to improve process capability and defect prevention.
• Work with engineering to optimize tolerances, inspection methods, and manufacturing flow.
• Assist in PPAP processing and documentation preparation.

Supplier Quality

• Support supplier quality monitoring.
• Review incoming inspection requirements/ assist in planning incoming and in-process inspection needs.
• Investigate supplier-related nonconformances and assist with supplier corrective actions.

Quality System & Compliance

• Maintain compliance with ISO 9001 Quality Management System requirements.
• Assist with internal audits, customer audits, and certification audits.
• Support document control and revision management of quality procedures and forms.
• Assist in maintaining calibration programs and measurement system control.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Track and analyze quality performance metrics such as:
  • Scrap rates
  • Rework rates
  • NCR trends
  • Customer complaints
  • Process capability
• Generate quality reports and dashboards for management review.

Additional Duties

• Documents NCR’s periodically updates the NCR database and interacts with customers via email to secure the return of nonconforming products.
• Participates in special projects, problem investigations and assignments.
• Performs calibrations for all testing and measurement equipment, keeps calibration records and ensures calibrations are completed on time.
• Maintains up-to-date documentation by completing all necessary paperwork (i.e., in process inspection records, signing off on job travelers, 1st piece inspection tags, CoC’s, MTR’s, etc.).
• Performs training as required for team members to include but not limited to inspection methods, work instructions, procedures, or production processes.
• Provides continuous feedback to Quality Manager regarding quality, engineering and manufacturing related issues.
• Completes work on quality system and or process improvements.
• Performs part and process related internal audits.
• Processes customer returns and ensures timely disposition of parts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong ability in reading and interpreting complex drawings/blueprints to understand parameters of parts. Familiarity with basic geometric tolerancing and weld symbols is preferred.
• Knowledgeable in the use of all inspection equipment including, but not limited to micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, height gages, gage pins and gage blocks. CMM and thread gage knowledge helpful.
• Knowledgeable about current quality system standards such as ISO 9001 and/or TS 16949 helpful.
• Maintains composure under pressure. Ability to multi-task in response to numerous demands.
• Strong time management skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Computer proficiency in Excel and Word required.
• Ability to learn and adapt any new company computer software programs for the Dimar Business system.
• Familiarity with ERP systems helpful.

Experience and Education:

• High School Diploma required.
• Associates degree preferred.
• 5+ years’ experience required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands for fine motor dexterity and to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand for extended periods (up to 6 hours per shift), walk, stoop or bend, reach with hands and arms, and remain aware of surroundings through hearing. The employee is occasionally required to sit for short periods (1–2 hours per day) and to kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 40 lbs. at waist height and 40 lbs. at shoulder height. Above-head lifting is not required for this role. The employee may be required to carry weight either alone or with assistance over distances of up to 5 feet, and may occasionally be required to push, pull, or hold objects as needed.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Special Requirements

• Machine shopwork environment; dust, grease, and metal shavings are common.
• Requires the use of the following personal protective equipment:
• Safety Glasses, Steel Toed Shoes/Boots.

Must be able to:

• Work safely in a fast-paced environment.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.