Quality Engineer

If you are a current Ruger employee, please click here to apply internally.

Job Description:

This position will be an instrumental member of the Quality Team. The Quality Engineer is expected to work collaboratively with leadership, product development, engineering, supply base, purchasing and other functional areas to meet critical business needs. This position is hands on, will spend time focusing on significant manufacturing process, quality and product related concerns internally and with suppliers. The position requires a self-motivated person who can effectively manage relationships, both internally and externally at all levels of the organizations, to further the Ruger’s core values of Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaboratively works with management to establish and drive quality improvement actions in the plant aligned with Leaderships goals.
• Improving the supply base | Supplier Improvement | PPAP | Reducing Supplier Impact Events
• Drive improvement actions for technical issues across the facility with a focus on quality.
• Process improvements by driving control method to establish stability
• Support the goals for quality technicians and help track progress towards goals.
• Managing personal workload and cross train where appropriate.

Core Competencies / Tasks:

Technical Problem-Solving support • Gaging development and process controls oversight • Providing technical direction and oversight • Key Equipment knowledge: Inspection/Programming for Existing products to drive sustainable process controls • Process gaging development to align to a “NO TOUCH” technology • Train, Teach and provide Technical support • Manufacturing and assembly process definition • Human factors consideration

• Knowledge of quality systems and gauging methods utilizing GD&T to assure gage control mimics design expectations through fundamental work holding and processing to create a smooth transition from Raw to Final product.
• Lead timely solutions to ongoing quality and delivery problems.
• Experience with component machining and assembly processes including CNC machining centers, precision grinding processes, managing and controlling extremely tight tolerances, CAD (Solid works), Metrology (CMM, Vision, In-Line Gaging, Surface Plate, Air Gaging, etc).
• Strong technical knowledge and proven abilities in process engineering disciplines.
• Demonstrate excellent levels of analytical ability.
• Strong background driving process improvement through process controls, Poka-yoke and stability improvement.
• Drive supplier non-conformities with the goal of ensuring adherence to the Ruger Supplier Quality Manual, improving quality, reducing cost and improving deliveries.
• Support Ruger suppliers with key APQP/PPAP tools: Process Flow Charts, Work Instructions, PFMEA, Control Plans, Gage R&R’s, and process capability (Supplier Development Focus).
• Mentor and support internal Ruger stakeholders – Purchasing, Engineering, Receiving, etc – on the implementation of proper APQP and PPAP activities.
• Drive standardization throughout the Ruger Mayodan plant through standard work, benchmarking and establishing process standards.

Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent program management, organization and follow up skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills utilizing Structured Methods (6-Sigma, DMAIC, Shainin), Five Why, and Lean methods.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to influence others at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of operational metrics for leadership discussions focused improvement.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• 5+ years of manufacturing experience in Operations, Supply Chain, Quality or Supplier Quality.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing engineering, Industrial Engineering with a strong Quality background.
• Ability to understand and interpret engineering drawings using Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Thorough knowledge in Metrology, CMM’s, Gage R&R, Process Capability and variation reduction.
• Experience in Supply Chain or Supplier Quality.
• Thorough knowledge of core processes in the Supply Chain – Metal Injection Molding, Plastic Molding, Swiss/Screw Machine, CNC Machining, Springs and Stampings, Investment Castings and Forgings.
• Knowledge of our secondary/specialized processes in the Supply Chain – Heat Treatment, Coatings, Black Oxide, Melonite, PVD/DLC, and Anodizing.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or manufacturing engineering
• 2 – 10+ years practical manufacturing experience
• Strong knowledge of trouble shooting manufacturing processes
• Strong knowledge of gauge and fixture design
• Strong knowledge of GD&T
• Strong knowledge of capability studies and gauge R&R
• Strong communication proficiency, organizational, presentation and problem solving/analysis skills

Production / Operational Hours

The position will support a production schedule which targets two ten hours shifts of operation. The position will support the quality requirements of the plant and the supply base. Hours will remain flexible where a standard week will range between 40-50 hours. Some travel will be required to support potential issues in the supply base.