Quality Assurance Specialist in waukegan, Illinois at Peer Chain Company

Description: PEER Chain & Sprockets is a family-owned industrial chain and sprocket supplier based in Waukegan, Illinois, providing high-quality products for power transmission, conveying, and lifting applications since 1969. They serve a wide range of industries including agriculture, food processing, lumber, construction, and sewage treatment, offering ANSI and ISO compliant chains. Now celebrating over 56 years in business, the company has grown into a four-generation family operation known for its product expertise and quick turnaround times. LOCAL CANDIDATES ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Key Responsibilities

1. QMS Optimization & Governance

• Maintain improve, and standardize the company’s Quality Management System (QMS), including procedures, work instructions, and documentation structure
• Identify gaps in current processes and implement improvements to enhance system effectiveness and usability
• Ensure QMS aligns with ISO 9001 requirements and supports business operations
• Support internal and external audits, including audit preparation, findings resolution, and corrective actions

2. Process Implementation & Standardization

• Lead cross-functional efforts to deploy standardized processes (SOPs, workflows, controls)
• Drive adoption of new processes through training, communication, and follow-up
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, and Customer Service teams to embed quality into daily operations
• Monitor process compliance and ensure consistent execution across the organization

3. Data Analysis & Performance Management

• Develop and track key quality and process performance metrics (KPIs)
• Analyze trends related to defects, customer complaints, returns (RMA), and process variation
• Create dashboards and reports to support decision-making and leadership reviews
• Use data to identify root causes and prioritize improvement actions

4. Continuous Improvement (Six Sigma Mindset)

• Apply Lean / Six Sigma methodologies (DMAIC, root cause analysis, corrective actions) to solve quality and process issues
• Lead or support improvement projects to reduce waste, variation, and inefficiencies
• Drive culture of continuous improvement across departments
• Facilitate problem-solving workshops and cross-functional improvement initiatives

5. Customer Quality & Corrective Actions

• Support investigation of customer complaints, non-conformance, and returns
• Ensure timely root cause analysis and implementation of corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
• Track effectiveness of corrective actions and ensure sustainable closure

Pay: $60,000 – 75,000.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Flexible hours
• Health, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Profit sharing plan
• STD, LTD and life insurance
• Generous PTO policy and paid holidays

How to apply:

www.peerchain.com/about-us/careers

Requirements:

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, or related field
• 3–5 years of experience in Quality Assurance, QMS, or Process Improvement roles
• Experience working within ISO 9001 or similar quality frameworks
• Strong analytical and data skills (Excel, Power BI, or similar tools preferred)
• Practical experience with process mapping and SOP development
• Knowledge of Lean / Six Sigma principles (Green Belt preferred)
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis capability
• Ability to drive cross-functional change and process adoption
• Detail-oriented with strong documentation and organizational skills

Key Success Metrics (Example)

QMS compliance and audit performance (internal/external)

• Process adoption and standardization across departments
• Reduction in defects, non-conformance, and customer complaints
• Improvement in key KPIs (quality, delivery, process cycle time)
• Effectiveness and closure rate of corrective actions