Lead Quality Engineer - Chemical Packaging - BISSELL Homecare

The Lead Quality Engineer - Chemical Packaging will hold the primary accountability for maintaining high levels of quality on internally produced BISSELL product and BISSELL’s external manufacturing partners. This responsibility will include implementing robust quality and continuous improvement systems, leading day-to-day manufacturing support, and supporting where needed in the development of technical and soft skills for the quality technicians. The scope of work will include: blow molding, batching, filling and packaging for production at the Walker facility, as well as, domestic contract manufacturers and any global facilities.

• Ability to manage all day-to-day quality activities for multi-shift molding, batching, filling and packaging operations.
• Has familiarity with physical and analytical tests on components and raw materials, including but not limited to color, physical characteristics, dimensional characteristics, Infra-Red Spectrophotometry, Specific Gravity, Percent Solids, etc.
• Has familiarity with Laboratory Information Management Systems to manage product set-up, manufacturing data and trends.
• Steps in where necessary to support multi-shift operation and works collaboratively with cross-functional operations partners to pro-actively solve problems and drive solutions.
• Manages the quality for the domestic component supply base through supplier score cards, facility audits, management of non-conforming material, and corrective actions
• Manages the quality for any domestic contracted manufacturer and supports the quality of any global manufacturing of BISSELL chemical goods.
• Develops systems for managing quality of internally produced sub-assemblies and finished goods through procedure development, action plans, rework instructions in accordance of the Quality Systems Manual
• Initiates investigations customer complaints of Consumable products and methodically tracks through robust root cause analysis and problem-solving techniques.
• Manages, tracks, and closes non-conformances, corrective, and preventative actions through BISSELL Quality Management System software.
• Leads training and development of Quality associates on new projects, processes, procedures, and skill sets.
• Helps set direction, vision, and goals for Chemical Packaging quality associates each year based on gaps identified, skillsets needed, and corporate capability areas.
• Provides regular quality reports to management and updates presentation materials to inform organization on quality performance.
• Works hand-in-hand with design quality engineers to ensure new product development transitions from development to manufacturing with success.
• Assists in generation and approval of product PPAP’s both internally and externally to ensure all production readiness deliverables are complete and documented.
• Helps develop and monitors key performance indicators of both internal and external quality of BISSELL products and performs periodic data reviews to monitor trends for action.
• Creates and implements robust continuous improvement program and builds capability within internal and external manufacturing operations and quality systems.
• New Supplier selection, approval and development
  • Work with cross functional groups to identify potential new suppliers
  • Perform necessary assessments to determine suitability of suppliers to meet BISSELL requirements
  • Provide onsite audit using quality tools to define suppliers’ capabilities
  • Develop list of need improvements to meet BISSELL quality requirements
  • Partners with Design Quality Engineers to ensure successful launches of new products
  • Skill to help build and improve processes with suppliers where required through understanding of supplier’s process and needs of BISSELL
• Responsible as needed to perform administrative activities such as associate timecard management, equipment calibration, supply purchase orders, and performance management activities.
• Performs other related duties as necessary.

REQUIRED CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Team leader/coach/ability to motivate            
• Change leadership/management
• Global strategic thinking and implementation
• Professional expertise
• Oral and written communication with impact
• Manage/contribute to multiple dynamic priorities
• Interpersonal/collaborative skills
• Continuous improvement                        

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION:

Degree minimum:   Bachelor of Science degree

Specific concentration: Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or other Sciences.

Experience level: 

• 8+ years’ experience in Quality Engineering
• 3+ years’ experience in Leadership / Management (formal or informal capacity)

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION:

• Chemical products experience or equivalent
• Black Belt Six Sigma certification - preferred
• Working knowledge of chemical packaging or chemical manufacturing environments on shift operation
• Background in manufacturing processes or chemical laboratory management
• Experience with supplier assessment audits, supplier certification, and external supplier management
• Knowledge of RCA, SPC, FMEA, PPAP, process statistics, and other Quality tools 

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Quality System and Laboratory Information Management System knowledge
• Background in ISO 9001:2015 (or equivalent) or GMP standards
• Good written and verbal communications.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong computer skills with a firm understanding of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated team-building skills in an environment of managing associates
• Willing to travel to existing and potential suppliers.

This position requires the ability to lead in the flow of data, perform analysis, generate summary reports and communicate by voice or data while being connected in the office, at home or while travelling by laptop or mobile device regularly without regard to time zone or day of the week.