Quality Engineer at ALPLA Group in Kansas City, MO

ALPLA is a global family-owned, privately held company that makes innovative, customized, recycled packaging for top companies such as P&G, Unilever, L'Oréal, Pepsi, and more. ALPLA values their employees, work-life balance, personal growth, compensation and sustainability.

What Can You Expect From ALPLA

• Health and Wellness Care Program- Benefits
• Child Care Benefits
• Dependent Care Cost Savings Program
• Recognition programs; Promotional opportunities
• 401K Retirement Plan and excellent Matching Plan
• Medical, dental, vision plan
• Education assistance program/tuition reimbursement
• Short term, long term and life insurance paid by ALPLA
• Paid vacation; paid holidays

What You Will Enjoy Doing

Support the site Integrated Management System (IMS) and Quality Assurance activities through projects and initiatives that ensure compliance with internal, customer and regulatory requirements. Provides quality engineering support to operations, quality control and continuous improvement activities. Promote the quality mind set in the plant.

Main Responsibilities:

Measurement and Test Systems

• Leads optimization of laboratory and in-line measurement and test systems to ensure accurate, reliable and repeatable data
• Trains production and quality personnel on proper use of measurement and test systems
• Maintains calibration status, standards and verification requirements for quality related equipment
• Monitors inline and laboratory testing through routine review of SPC and quality data to ensure data integrity and appropriate reaction

Mold Approvals

• Leads and supports mold qualification, verification and approval activities
• Analyzes mold performance data to confirm conformance to product and customer requirements and supports corrective actions as needed

Customer & Internal Quality Issues

• Leads analysis of internal quality data and customer complaint trends to identify root causes and systemic issues
• Reviews customer scorecards and supports implementation of improvement actions in partnership with operations
• Partners with production to establish and validate optimized process settings, particularly during sampling, product qualification and process changes
• Leads root cause analysis activities involving cross functional teams and ensures corrective actions are data driven and effective

Quality System

• Supports the Quality Manager in maintaining compliance with ISO 9001, FSSC 22000 and applicable regulatory and customer requirements
• Assists in execution of hazard analysis and risk mitigation programs, including HACCP and change management activities
• Prepares technical inputs and supports execution of internal, customer and external audits, including follow-up on assigned actions

Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement

• Leads and supports site continuous improvement projects focused on reducing variation, improving capability and preventing recurrence of issues
• Applies data analysis and statistical tools to drive problem solving and improvement initiatives
• Supports deployment and sustainment of operational excellence tools within the plant

Performance Metrics:

Performance is evaluated based on the effectiveness of technical quality leadership at the site, including measurement and test system performance, data analysis and problem-solving activities. Additional considerations include quality of root cause analysis, effectiveness of corrective actions and support of the site Quality Manager in maintaining compliance with quality and food safety system requirements. Emphasis is placed on data-driven decision making, technical rigor and sustainable improvement of product and process performance.

KPIs include but are not limited to:

• Accuracy, reliability and capability of measurement and test systems
• Calibration compliance and availability of quality test equipment
• Effectiveness and timeliness of root cause analyses and corrective actions
• Reduction in repeat internal quality issues and customer complaints
• Quality of data analysis used to support process optimization and product qualification
• Support of audits and timely closure of assigned quality system actions

Competencies:

• Ensures Accountability
• Decision Quality
• Communicates Effectively
• Instills Trust
• Collaborates
• Values Differences
• Drives Results

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering preferred (other science or technical degrees considered) with 1–2 years of relevant experience preferred. Five years of related work experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
• Some experience in a high volume manufacturing or lab environment preferred
• Some work experience in Quality Assurance
• Experience with physical lab testing equipment, calipers, scales, digital height gauge and compression force testing equipment
• Strong statistical Six Sigma Green Belt (desirable)
• Knowledge of Project Management and experience leading projects (ideal)
• Computer proficiency (Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Word, SPC and/or MiniTab)
• Ability to work well with other departments and plants, and lead small
• Able to handle multi-task environment with excellent organizational

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job:

• The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms and very occasionally to climb or balance.
• The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.

It is required to act in a safe and environmentally responsible manner at all times by adhering to all ALPLA policies and procedures and Safety Standards (OSHA).

ALPLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: ALPLA is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at ALPLA are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. ALPLA will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.