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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Factory Inspector

💰 $45,000 - $70,000

ManufacturingQuality AssuranceIndustrialSkilled Trades

🎯 Role Definition

As a Factory Inspector, you are the frontline guardian of our product quality and manufacturing integrity. You will be responsible for meticulously examining products and processes at various stages of production to ensure they meet our rigorous company standards and industry regulations. This role requires a keen eye for detail, a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. You will work hands-on with production teams, utilize precision measurement tools, and document findings to drive continuous improvement and guarantee customer satisfaction.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Production Line Associate or Machine Operator
  • Quality Control Technician Trainee
  • Warehouse and Inventory Clerk with technical aptitude

Advancement To:

  • Senior Factory Inspector or Quality Lead
  • Quality Assurance Supervisor
  • Quality Engineer or Process Engineer

Lateral Moves:

  • Calibration Technician
  • Process Improvement Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct comprehensive in-process and final inspections of manufactured goods, components, and sub-assemblies to ensure strict adherence to engineering drawings, quality specifications, and industry standards.
  • Proficiently operate and maintain a variety of precision measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, bore gauges, and Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM), to verify product dimensions.
  • Perform visual inspections to identify surface defects, cosmetic flaws, and assembly errors, comparing finished products against approved samples and quality checklists.
  • Identify, quarantine, and meticulously document defective products or non-conforming materials, initiating the non-conformance reporting (NCR) process for further analysis and disposition.
  • Interpret and apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) symbols and principles from complex technical blueprints and schematics to validate part compliance.
  • Execute first article inspection (FAI) on new or revised parts, creating detailed reports to validate that production processes are capable of producing parts to spec.
  • Monitor production processes and work instructions in real-time to verify that operations are being performed according to established procedures and safety guidelines.
  • Approve incoming materials and in-process production by confirming specifications, conducting measurement and visual tests, and rejecting and returning unacceptable materials.
  • Maintain and manage detailed, accurate records of all inspection activities, test data, and quality reports within the company's Quality Management System (QMS).
  • Communicate inspection results, quality issues, and non-conformance trends effectively to production supervisors, engineers, and quality management.
  • Participate actively in root cause analysis (RCA) investigations to determine the source of quality defects and collaborate on developing effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
  • Audit and verify the calibration status of all measuring and test equipment to ensure their accuracy and reliability for inspections.
  • Uphold and enforce all company safety protocols and environmental regulations within the factory environment, reporting any potential hazards immediately.
  • Evaluate the final packaging and labeling of products to ensure they meet customer requirements and shipping standards before release.
  • Perform random and scheduled audits of production lines and work cells to assess process control, operator adherence to standards, and overall quality output.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in the training and coaching of production operators on quality standards, inspection techniques, and the proper use of measurement tools.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, such as Kaizen events and 5S programs, to enhance production efficiency and reduce waste.
  • Support the Quality Engineering team in the development and refinement of inspection plans, quality checklists, and work instructions.
  • Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) meetings to provide input on the disposition of non-conforming products.
  • Gather and analyze quality data to identify trends, create statistical process control (SPC) charts, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area within the quality inspection lab and on the production floor.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Blueprint Reading: Advanced proficiency in reading and interpreting complex engineering drawings, technical schematics, and manufacturing work orders.
  • GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing): Strong working knowledge and practical application of GD&T principles and symbols.
  • Precision Measurement Instruments: Expertise in using calipers, micrometers, height gauges, optical comparators, and other metrology tools.
  • Quality Management Systems (QMS): Experience working with QMS software for documentation, NCRs, and data tracking (e.g., in an ISO 9001 environment).
  • First Article Inspection (FAI): Proven ability to perform and document comprehensive First Article Inspections per AS9102 or similar standards.
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Familiarity with problem-solving methodologies like 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, or 8D.
  • Basic Computer Proficiency: Competency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) for data entry, reporting, and communication.

Soft Skills

  • Attention to Detail: An exceptional ability to detect minor defects and discrepancies that could impact product quality and performance.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: The capacity to analyze quality issues, identify potential causes, and logically evaluate solutions.
  • Communication Skills: Clear and concise verbal and written communication to effectively report findings to team members, supervisors, and engineers.
  • Integrity and Objectivity: An unwavering commitment to upholding quality standards and making unbiased decisions based on data and specifications.
  • Time Management: Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple inspection tasks and priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
  • Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work constructively with production staff and other departments to achieve common quality goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED Equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's Degree or a technical certification in Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Technology, or a related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Manufacturing Technology
  • Quality Management
  • Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of hands-on experience in a quality control or inspection role within a manufacturing or industrial environment.

Preferred:

  • Experience working in a facility certified to ISO 9001, AS9100, or IATF 16949 standards is highly desirable.
  • Prior experience with CMM programming or operation is a significant plus.
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