Quality Engineer with Apex International in Chaska, MN - Apex International

At Apex International, we take pride in our commitment to manufacturing high-quality OTC, personal care, and household products. We strive to build collaborative partnerships with a diverse range of customers, including global Fortune 100 companies and entrepreneurial start-ups.

We seek a highly skilled Quality Engineer to contribute to our customer's success by using the Apex Business System's lean principles to prevent and permanently solve quality problems, including process deviations and procedural errors. This full-time salaried position will be based out of our Chaska, MN production facility, which is located at 134 Columbia Ct N, Chaska, MN 55318.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

1. Utilize data to prioritize actions that prevent and permanently solve product quality problems.

• Develop and oversee systems for gathering, analyzing, and reporting quality data to deliver value streams.
• Work with the delivery value streams to determine root causes and identify solutions that permanently solve prioritized quality problems, procedural deviations, and process gaps.
• Develop and implement highly predictive metrics to support decision-making.
• Investigate quality events to determine root cause, corrective action, and product impact.
• Work collaboratively with operations to draft non-conformance reports and corrective and preventive action reports.

2. Provide training support to operators as needed, based on investigations.

• Support new product launches and ongoing product specification maintenance.
• Review and approve new and updated Packaging Batch Records.
• Function as the primary quality liaison supporting the New Product Launch Cell.
• Support new product pilot runs and launches to ensure pilot and launch finished product quality goals are achieved.
• Support customer visits during new product launches.
• Support the creation of setup sheets for new products on production lines, to ensure repetitive set up of equipment to manufacture quality product right the first time.

3. Author and revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instructions (WI's) to ensure information is accurate and complete for current processes and equipment.

• Utilize data from process improvement initiatives to drive SOP and work instruction updates.
• Author SOPs, WIS and other quality documents for new processes.

4. Understand and maintain a culture of "lean action" within the department so that we live lean better than any organization.

• Implement and maintain standards and processes that eliminate waste throughout the department.
• Apply and utilize "lean tools" to permanently implement improvements.
• Institutionalize 5-S in all aspects of the department. (Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain).

5. Perform other work as assigned.

• Complete equipment inspections for cleanliness and wear.
• Support equipment qualifications
• Assist with supplier qualifications.

Qualification and Skill Requirements

• This position requires more than 1 year and less than 5 years of successful experience in a quality assurance position in an effective Lean environment in cosmetic or pharmaceutical drug manufacturing.
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent

Knowledge Requirements

• To be effective, this position requires Customer Focus, Constant Improvement and Results Orientation as core character traits. This position requires manufacturing aptitude and experience and ability. It has a high demand for manufacturing short to mid-run product cycles in a highly effective and profitable manner. Requires an understanding and experience with lean methodology, and kaizen. IQ, OQ, PQ, Six Sigma, GMP, HACCP, OTC, Micro.

Benefits

• Medical, Rx, Dental benefits
• Short term & Long-term Disability
• Life Insurance
• HSA/Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match
• Employee Assistance Program

Additional Information

Apex International's dynamic nature, unwavering commitment to quality, implementation of Lean Manufacturing practices, financial strength, unwavering focus on customer satisfaction and problem-solving employees have propelled us to become a prominent industry leader in contract manufacturing for the personal and home care sector.

As a leader in contract manufacturing, Apex stands out due to:

1. Unrivaled commitment to quality: Apex sets itself apart with its measurable advantage in delivering products of the highest quality standards.
2. Emphasis on Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement: Apex is dedicated to implementing Lean Manufacturing practices, constantly seeking ways to optimize processes and enhance efficiency.
3. As a privately held company with strong financial stability, Apex ensures reliability and long-term partnership opportunities.
4. Customer-focused and problem-solving employees: Apex boasts a team of highly skilled and dedicated employees who excel in customer service and possess exceptional problem-solving abilities. Our commitment to meeting customer needs is unparalleled.

Apex International Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer.