Quality Engineer Lead

EXPERIENCED QUALITY MANAGER/ENGINEER

OVER ** YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SUCCESSFULLY LEADING MANUFACTURING QUALITY

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Veteran Quality Engineer with wide-ranging experience including corrective and preventive actions, defect/reject (NC) investigation and resolution, root cause analysis, DHF, DMR, DHR, Global & RoHS supply chain quality support & development. Knowledgeable in investigation and quality assurance, including authoring quality and EMS system policies, quality manuals, APQP & PPAP documentation, supplier surveys, procedures, operations, inspections & gauging instructions. Demonstrated proficiency with multiple QMS, ERP, and audit management tools such as TrackWise, QC Calc, Minitab, Agile, TipQA, Q1 Macros, MS Office, BAAN, Mpact, SyteLine, other ERP & QMS software; Datapage, OGPMeasuremind3, Zone3, and PCDMIS CMM programmer. Proven expert in GD&T ASME14.5Y, problem solving, leadership, training, coaching, and facilitating through successful communication and excellent writing skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Alstom Group, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada Hybrid: Supplier site Elkhart, IN and remote

Supplier Quality Engineer (contract) September 2023 – March 2024 (Passenger train window refit project)

•Reviewed and verified part production documentation PPAP conformity and assessed manufacturing processes.

•Performed document and on-site process audits of 2 windows supporting PPAP approval, deviation, and event completion.

•Performed limited document only audit of 2 additional windows,ed supporting PPAP approval documentation.

Plexus Corporation, Buffalo Grove, IL (Medical Device contract manufacturer)

PPAP Quality Engineer (Remote contract) April 2022 – September 2022

•Review and verified part production documentation PPAP conformity (submitted by sub-contractors in Mexico) and assessed any process or material changes needed.

•Performed technical investigations supporting PPAP approval deviation and event documentation.

•Guided and educated suppliers on production part approval element modules and requirements.

Woodstock Sterile Solutions, Woodstock, IL (Pharmaceutical manufacturer)

Technical Investigation Writer (contract) Aug 2021 – December 2021

Performed robust root-cause, continuous process improvement, and compliance risk management investigations.

Responsible for technical investigations supporting deviation and event documentation.

Supported a focus on standardization, simplification, and rapid adoption of best practices.

AD – Tech Medical Instrument, Oak Creek, WI (Medical Device contract manufacturer)

CAPA Quality Engineer (contract) July 2019 – October 2019

Investigated root causes, recommended corrective and preventive actions to multi-level CAPAs.

Investigations included DMR/DHR as well as staff interviews, GR&R, and process observations.

Plexus Corporation, Buffalo Grove, IL (Medical Device contract manufacturer)

CAPA Coach Quality Engineer (contract) February 2019 – April 2019

Trained and coached permanent employees around CAPA process.

Coached production personnel in process control, problem statements, investigation, RCA, action implementation and verification of manufacturing CAPA, SCAR, and NC resolution.

Provided training and coaching support for corrective, preventive action efforts.

Dwyer Instruments, Michigan City, IN (Industrial Measurement Instrument manufacturer)

RoHS Quality Engineer (contract) October 2016 – November 2017

RoHS Compliance Project Completion: Verified legacy product/component RoHS compliance approval. Recommended changes. Compliance tracking.

Part print review & revision (DMR & ECR), including risk assessment of non-compliant materials/parts.

Worked with Engineering & Purchasing to upgrade components (Submitting ECR’s where needed).

Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC Lake Zurich, IL (OEM Medical Device design and manufacturer)

Manufacturing Quality Engineer (contract) March 2015 – December 2015

Wrote OGP CMM inspection routines as well as CMM inspection setup and operator instructions of new products for use with a twin CMM at the contract manufacturer.

Performed gage R&R on OGP CMM program routines and setups. Conducted in-process inspections of new products.

Arranged and supervised CMM repair by OGP when needed.

Cole-Parmer, Barrington, IL (OEM Medical Device design and manufacturer)

RoHS Quality Engineer (contract) November 2013 – December 2014

Key team leader in RoHS improvement project for legacy parts.

Wrote RoHS internal training material for Purchasing, Engineering & Supplier stakeholders.

Audited RoHS compliance verification & document approval (DHF/DMR).

Worked with suppliers, upgrading components to ensure compliance.

Revised RoHS certification Supplier Declaration Form & Supplier Survey Questionnaire and Agile decision tree.

Wrote RoHS Supplier Survey Instructions.

Zebra Technologies, Vernon Hills, IL (OEM Label and RFID Printers/Readers design and manufacturer)

Quality Engineer (contract to permanent) January 2008 – October 2013

Global Supplier Development. Key team member in component offshore transfer project.

Key team member in corrosion reduction project (Introduced streamlined qualification process). STAR award for corrosion reduction project. Conducted in-process corrosion evaluation inspections.

Approved new & resourcing parts/components documentation. Approved supplier corrective actions, problem solving & continuous improvements. Conducted local supplier audits.

Developed Agile routing tree for China SDE team and Agile routing tree for revised New Product Introduction Process.

L-3 Communications, Rolling Meadows, IL (OEM Fault Switch design and manufacturer)

Quality Engineer (contract) October 2007 – December 2007

Corrective action, problem solving and continuous improvement. Conducted in-process inspections.

Wrote inspection and work instructions.

Parkview Metal Products, Inc., Lake Zurich, IL (Tier 1 Automotive supplier)

Quality Engineer August 2006 - October 2007

Corrective action, problem solving and continuous improvement. Conducted in-process & final inspections.

Improved existing quality system.

Wrote gauging & work instructions, APQP & PPAP documentation, inc. FMEA with risk (RPN) assessment & preventive actions/controls.

Achieved preferred customer PPAP status for one customer.

Tru-Val Tubing Co., Waterford, MI - (Tier 1 Automotive supplier)

Quality Manager/Engineer 2003 – 2005

Managed staff of 7 technical & clerical personnel.

Corrective actions, continuous improvement, new product launch quality initiatives, IMDS submissions.

Wrote gauging/work instructions, APQP, PPAP, FMEA with risk (RPN) assessment & preventive actions. Improved ISO/QS 9000 Quality System. Eliminated backlog of NC complaints. Managed inspection personnel.

Achieved 0 customer complaints for 11 months (from up to 800 per year for GM alone in 2001-2002 under previous management). Improved from lower 5% of GM’s supplier rating to upper 5%.

Co-leader of ISO-14001 registration project.

Achieved ISO-14001 registration.

Self-Employed, Independent Contractor, Waterford, MI - Short Term Contract Projects 2002 - 2003

Wrote quality manual for Precision Die Cast.

Wrote gauging instructions for GM Flint South plant.

Work instructions, PPAPs for various clients (both non-automotive & automotive).

Conducted process control audit for GM Flint South plant.

Future Die Cast & Engineering, Shelby Township, MI - (Tier 1 Automotive supplier)

Quality Manager/Coordinator 1998 – 2002

Developed quality team and QMS from scratch. Achieved QS-9000/ISO-9001 registration on the 1st audit.

Performed NC investigations and introduced QMS software. Conducted in-process & final inspections.

APQP, Wrote quality manual, procedures, and inspection instructions with PPAP, Control Plans, FMEA with risk (RPN) assessments and preventive actions.

Improvement actions, audits, reports. Brown and Sharpe CMM programmer/operator.

Thielenhaus Microfinish Corporation, Novi, MI (Microfinishing Machine Tool design and manufacturer)

Metrology Quality Coordinator 1996 – 1998

Organized quality record system.

Compiled machine run-off submissions.

Performed product measurements/inspections.

Maintained instruments and calibration system.

Ocean Microwave Corporation, Neptune, NJ (Tier 1 Cell Phone electronic components manufacturer)

Quality Inspector 1995

Improved supplier quality development and corrective action.

Reduced vendor’s reject rate from 25% to less than 2%.

Redesigned vendor rating system. Created vendor database.

Condensed & organized product inspection histories.

Incoming & in-process inspections

UTE Microwave, Inc., Asbury Park, NJ (Defense Systems manufacturer)

Quality Technical Writer/Inspector 1986 – 1994

Advanced from Receiving Inspector to QA Technical Writer.

Wrote over 1100 inspection procedures in 8 months.

Developed, wrote & maintained quality procedures & inspection instructions.

Supervised staff of 3 clerks, publishing various quality documents, including quality manual.

Initiated corrective & improvement actions.

Programmed and operated Numerex CMM

Incoming, final & in-process inspections

Kessler-Ellis, Inc., Atlantic Highlands, NJ - (OEM Counters, Timers, PLC Display manufacturer)

Quality Technician – 04/1984-07/1986

Receiving, in-process, & final inspections, tests, troubleshooting &/or repairs of electro-mechanical counter & timer assemblies. Trained lower-level personnel. Wrote test procedures.

Osbourne Computer, Inc., S. Brunswick, NJ - (Portable Computers design and manufacturer)

Engineering Quality Technician – 08/1982-08/1983

Promoted from assembler to engineering technician in 6 months for problem solving initiatives. Reduced computer drive rejections to 0 from up to 50% due to assembly inconsistencies. Performed in-process inspections.

DEGREE

Associate Applied Science Degree in Manufacturing Management McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL, December 2020

CERTIFICATIONS

McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL: Certification in Manufacturing Processes, 2020

McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL: Certification in Manufacturing Supervision, 2020

Previously ASQ Certified Supplier Quality Professional (certification expired)

Previously ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (certification expired)

ASQ Certified Quality Inspector

AFFILIATIONS

American Society for Quality (ASQ): Energy & Environmental, Automotive, Education, Measurement Quality, and Quality Management, Inspection, Design & Construction divisions

ASQ Senior Member

National Technical Honor Society

VETERAN STATUS

United States Air Force - 4 years, Honorable Discharge

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