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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for CNC Quality Lead

💰 $ - $

ManufacturingQualityCNCEngineeringLeadership

🎯 Role Definition

The CNC Quality Lead is a hands-on quality assurance and continuous improvement leader responsible for ensuring precision CNC machined parts consistently meet customer specifications, regulatory and certification requirements, and internal quality standards. This role combines technical metrology expertise (CMM, handheld and bench gages), advanced geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T), statistical process control (SPC) and corrective action ownership with people leadership — coaching inspectors, working directly with CNC programmers and machinists, managing supplier and customer quality interactions, and driving process improvements that reduce scrap, rework and customer complaints. Ideal for experienced quality professionals from aerospace, medical device, automotive, or high-precision manufacturing environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • CNC Machinist / Programmer transitioning into quality leadership
  • Quality Engineer or Quality Inspector with CNC/metrology experience
  • Process or Manufacturing Supervisor with quality responsibility

Advancement To:

  • Quality Manager / Manufacturing Quality Manager
  • Director of Quality / Head of Quality Excellence
  • Operations Manager / Plant Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Process Engineer (CNC process design & optimization)
  • Supplier Quality Engineer / Supplier Development Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the day-to-day quality operations for CNC machining lines, including planning and execution of incoming inspection, in-process inspection and final inspection activities to ensure 100% traceability and compliance with engineering drawings and customer requirements.
  • Develop, implement and maintain inspection plans, control plans, standard work, and work instructions for CNC-produced components to eliminate ambiguity and ensure consistent measurement and acceptance criteria.
  • Program, validate and operate Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs) using software such as PC-DMIS, Verisurf or Hexagon/Zeiss tools to create and optimize inspection routines for complex geometric features.
  • Interpret engineering drawings and apply advanced GD&T principles to verify part conformance, identify critical dimensions/tolerances and define measurement strategies for complex machined features.
  • Establish, analyze and maintain Statistical Process Control (SPC) systems (control charts, process capability studies, trend analysis) to monitor CNC processes and drive reduction in process variation and defects.
  • Own first article inspections (FAI), PPAP submissions and production part approval processes; prepare and submit customer-required documentation to achieve sign-off and reduce time-to-production.
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) activities using problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC or A3 to resolve customer nonconformances and internal rejects.
  • Plan and execute internal quality audits and support external audits for ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 13485 or other customer-specific quality system audits—prepare evidence, lead audit responses and implement corrective actions.
  • Manage nonconforming material processes including NCR creation, disposition, segregation, rework plans and reinspection to minimize production disruption and financial impact.
  • Develop and maintain calibration schedules for all metrology equipment (CMMs, gage blocks, micrometers, calipers, bore gages), ensure compliance with laboratory standards and coordinate with external calibration providers.
  • Coach, train and mentor quality inspectors, machinists and engineers on measurement techniques, GD&T interpretation, inspection equipment operation and quality best practices to raise skill levels across the cell/plant.
  • Collaborate with CNC programmers and process engineers to review toolpath strategies, fixture design and machining sequence changes to proactively reduce quality escapes and improve first-pass yield.
  • Interface directly with customers and suppliers on technical quality issues, perform supplier part audits, develop supplier corrective action plans and drive supplier improvement initiatives to ensure incoming component quality.
  • Maintain and improve quality metrics and KPIs (PPM, scrap %, on-time delivery, first pass yield, capability indices Cp/Cpk) and report results to plant leadership with recommended actions.
  • Manage and prioritize quality engineering resources during new product introductions (NPI) to ensure seamless transfer to production with robust inspection protocols and minimal startup scrap.
  • Design and manage custom inspection fixtures, gage designs and automated measurement sequences for repeatable, efficient verification of complex CNC parts.
  • Implement Lean and continuous improvement projects (Kaizen, 5S, value stream mapping) targeted at process stabilization, cycle time reduction and defect elimination on CNC lines.
  • Ensure all quality documentation (inspection records, control plans, FMEA updates, work instructions) is maintained in the document control system and adheres to revision and change control practices.
  • Coordinate cross-functional containment actions during critical quality events and lead daily/weekly quality review meetings that include production, engineering, supply chain and management stakeholders.
  • Analyze warranty and field failure data to identify recurring failure modes attributable to machining processes, feed findings into design/process changes and track effectiveness of implemented fixes.
  • Oversee the deployment and validation of automated inspection equipment (vision inspection systems, laser scanners) and integrate measurement data into manufacturing execution systems (MES) or quality databases.
  • Support engineering change orders (ECO/ECN) related to machined components by assessing quality impacts, updating inspection routines and retraining inspection personnel as needed.
  • Maintain a strong safety culture within the quality team, ensuring inspection areas and labs comply with EHS standards and that all personnel adhere to PPE and safe handling of measurement equipment.

Secondary Functions

  • Support production scheduling by providing quality capacity estimates and inspection throughput planning to minimize bottlenecks on high-volume CNC lines.
  • Support continuous improvement data collection and ad-hoc reporting by supplying measurement datasets, SPC charts and inspection summaries to process engineering teams.
  • Contribute to supplier quality strategy by identifying high-risk suppliers, defining qualification criteria and participating in supplier capability assessments.
  • Participate in cross-functional project teams (NPI, cost reduction, automation) representing quality to ensure design for manufacturability and inspectability are addressed early.
  • Assist in the development and rollout of digital inspection solutions and quality management software (QMS), and help migrate paper-based inspection records to electronic systems.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert-level interpretation of engineering drawings and advanced GD&T application to complex machined parts.
  • Proficient in CMM programming, operation and routine optimization using PC-DMIS, Calypso, Verisurf or equivalent metrology software.
  • Strong experience with Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability (Cp/Cpk) analysis and hands-on use of Minitab or similar statistical packages.
  • In-depth knowledge of quality management systems and standards such as ISO 9001, AS9100 and ISO 13485; experience supporting external audits.
  • Skilled in root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies (8D, DMAIC, FMEA) and applying them to machining and assembly processes.
  • Experience executing First Article Inspection (FAI), PPAP submissions and maintaining control plans for production parts.
  • Proficient with measurement systems analysis (MSA), gage R&R studies and metrology best practices for both manual and automated inspection.
  • Familiarity with CNC process fundamentals, tooling, fixture design and typical machining-induced defects (burrs, chatter, runout, surface finish issues).
  • Hands-on experience with quality tools and software: ERP/QMS systems (SAP, Oracle), quality databases, SPC tools and MES integration.
  • Strong understanding of supplier quality management, including supplier audits, incoming inspection protocols and corrective action oversight.
  • Ability to design and validate custom inspection fixtures, gages and automated inspection sequences.
  • Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Kaizen events and 5S implementation as they relate to quality improvement.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people development skills with the ability to train, coach and motivate cross-functional teams.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication; able to present technical quality findings to engineers, suppliers and senior leadership.
  • Analytical mindset with attention to detail and a data-driven approach to problem solving and decision making.
  • Project management and prioritization skills to run multiple containment or improvement projects in parallel.
  • Customer-focused orientation with the ability to manage escalations, technical discussions and build trust with external partners.
  • Adaptability and resilience in high-pressure situations, such as managing customer rejections or emergency part shortages.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree in Manufacturing Technology, Inspection & Metrology, Mechanical Technology, or related technical discipline; or equivalent military / vocational experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Metrology / Precision Inspection
  • Industrial Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5 - 10+ years in quality roles within CNC machining, precision manufacturing, aerospace, medical device, or automotive industries, with at least 2-3 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Preferred:

  • Proven track record leading quality for CNC machining operations, CMM/metrology laboratories and supplier quality programs.
  • Experience with ISO/AS audits, PPAP/FAI processes and advanced SPC/Cpk improvement projects.
  • Prior success implementing Lean quality initiatives and measurable defect reduction across production lines.
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