Quality Engineer

Reporting directly to the Head of Engineering, the role of the quality engineer is a critical position within NHL. The post holder will be responsible for a variety of daily duties to ensure optimum quality levels are achieved and maintained throughout our manufacturing processes.

The postholder will be dedicated to actively contributing to the company’s continued success, whilst maintaining our company reputation as a leading manufacturer of high-quality hydraulic cylinders. They will assume full responsibility for implementing and continually driving the company forward in terms of its manufacturing effectiveness and establishing a culture of high-quality manufacturing. The successful person will have a can-do attitude and be able to demonstrate an ability to add value to the organisation by completing their duties in a timely and effective manner.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Monitor the quality of incoming parts and raw materials to ensure they are up to standard.
• Working alongside the supply chain function, ensure active communication between NHL and suppliers to resolve any supplier related quality issues, technical resource development and document accordingly.
• Review new NCs raised and ensure all mandatory information is captured and preventative actions put in place to prevent reoccurrence. Monitor and approve closure of NC actions.
• Conduct quality training workshops, completing quality toolbox talks and alerts
• Attend daily and weekly production, quality and scorecard meetings acting as a quality representative reporting on quality trends and preventative actions taken
• Ensure quality trends are clearly visible, communicated, and meaningful feedback conveyed to production teams on preventative actions
• Organise the return of defective goods (internal and warranty) to the supply chain and customers and ensure corrective actions are put in place to prevent reoccurrence
• Lead product failure investigations to ensure swift and thorough investigation and manage product recalls. Responsible for the creation and issuing of the rework schedule to production, ensuring turnaround times are met.
• Management of internal and ISO audit schedules &maintenance of and ensuring compliance to the company’s ISO 9001 – 2015 accreditation
• Work with customers to reach agreement for on all warranty claims and provide recommendations to management for approval of warranty payments
• Update our Quality Management System (QMS) with incidents, fixes, and improvements
• Coordinate with external quality assurance auditors and technicians to ensure legal compliance
• Any other duties within reason and capability

This description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties; the post holder will be responsible for all duties aforementioned in addition to all other aspects of the role as considered by the Engineering Manager to fall into the Quality Engineering role remit.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

Key Performance Indicators

• KPI’s and measurable figures are reviewed on an annual basis
• Investigate product quality in order to make improvements to achieve better customer satisfaction.
• Oversee continuous improvement projects.
• Plan, create and manage the overall Quality Planning strategy.
• Prepare and present reports and metrics to Senior Management.
• Test current products and identifying deficiencies.
• Collaborate with the Product Development team to ensure consistent project execution.

Role Requirements

• 3rd level mechanical / manufacturing or quality engineering qualification or QBE
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working within quality assurance & control in an engineering manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of special processes (e.g. welding, painting) including WPS.
• Demonstrable experience of using value added quality principles and facilitating improvement throughout the quality assurance process, by utilising practical problem-solving techniques such as 5Y, 8D, cause and effect analysis etc.
• Ability to demonstrate commercial astuteness with a strong focus particularly on managing the COQ and reducing the COPQ.
• Previous experience of working in line with ISO 9001 (2015) or a strong understanding the principles of ISO standards.
• Experience of driving NC process with a demonstrated ability to use NC process, root cause analysis and quality SOP’s to reduce the COPQ.
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written. Proven ability to work in a team as well as on their own initiative.
• Candidate must be self-motivated with a proven track record of driving tasks to completion in and effective and efficient manner ensuring long term continuous improvement is sustained.
• Proficient with the use of IT (particularly MS Office).
• Knowledge of the hydraulic cylinder manufacturing process.
• Experience within a precision engineering environment is advantageous.
• Previous MRP/ERP experience is desirable.
• ISO Internal Auditor Qualified.
• Strong understanding of customer expectations.

Hours of Work

Monday – Thursday: 08:00 am to 5:00 pm
Friday: 08:00 am to 2:00 pm

What we offer

• Early finish on Friday
• Westfield Health cover
• Access to the bike to work scheme
• Flexible holidays
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Exciting opportunities for the future, as the Company continues to grow and improve

Rights to work in the United Kingdom

Applicants for this role must be eligible to work legally in the United Kingdom. The successful applicant will be asked to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK before being formally offered the role. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, we will not be able to consider you for this role. If you are uncertain about your eligibility to work in the UK, you are encouraged to contact the UK Borders agency. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/

Please note

NHL reserves the right to enhance essential criteria in the event of a high volume of applicants. In such an instance, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

NHL is an equal opportunities employer.