The Quality Engineer is responsible for the overall performance of the quality inspection function, incoming material inspection, and the core quality engineering activities that support new and running production, including PPAP submissions, PFMEA development, control plans, and process flow documentation. This role directly supervises the plant's Quality Inspectors across all shifts and serves as the primary point of contact for customer complaints and rejected material. Responsibilities Oversee and direct the daily work of Quality Inspectors across all production shifts. Build and manage the inspector staffing schedule to ensure adequate lab and floor coverage on every shift. Review and approve inspector time cards; resolve time and attendance discrepancies. Train, coach, and evaluate inspectors; address performance issues and support ongoing skill development. Coordinate coverage for absences, vacations, and shift changes among the inspector team. Incoming Material Inspection Oversee inspection of incoming raw materials, including chemicals, incoming sheet stock, and glue, against specification. Ensure incoming inspection results are documented and any non-conforming material is identified and dispositioned. Work with suppliers and purchasing on incoming material quality issues as needed. Quality Engineering - PPAP, PFMEA & Control Plans Prepare and submit PPAP packages (Production Part Approval Process) for new and revised parts, including process flow diagrams, PFMEA, and control plans. Develop and maintain process flow charts that accurately reflect each step of the manufacturing process. Lead and maintain the PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) for each process step, identifying failure modes, current controls, and risk levels. Develop, implement, and maintain control plans that translate PFMEA findings into specific in -process checks, monitoring frequencies, and reaction plans. Identify and drive corrective actions arising from PFMEA and control plan reviews, partnering with production, maintenance, and engineering as needed. Keep PPAP, PFMEA, and control plan documentation current as processes, equipment, or specifications change. Customer Quality & Complaint Response Serve as the primary contact for customer-reported rejects and quality complaints. Investigate customer rejects, determine root cause, and lead structured problem-solving (e.g., 8D, fishbone/5 Ms, 5 Whys) as needed. Prepare and submit formal responses to customers, including containment actions, root cause findings, and corrective/preventive actions. Track customer complaint and reject trends and report status to management. General Quality Duties Support and review lab testing and dimensional inspection results performed by the inspection team. Monitor quality trends across incoming, in-process, and outgoing inspection data; flag emerging issues. Support internal and external audits, including customer and certification audits. Promote and enforce compliance with the plant's quality system, safety rules, and standard work. Qualifications Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a technical, engineering, or quality-related field, or equivalent hands-on experience in a manufacturing quality role. Working knowledge of PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, and process flow documentation. Experience with structured problem-solving methods (8D, fishbone/5 Ms, 5 Whys). Prior experience supervising or leading a team, including scheduling and time and attendance management. Strong math and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret inspection and test data for trends. Clear written and verbal communication skills, including experience corresponding directly with customers. Proficiency with standard office software (spreadsheets, documents, email) for reporting and documentation. Physical Requirements Ability to walk the production floor regularly and move between the lab, production lines, and office areas. Ability to lift and handle inspection samples and materials as needed.