Quality Control Technician

This role will rotate shifts between first and second

Position Summary

The Quality Control Technician performs sampling, inspection, testing, and documentation activities to verify that incoming materials, in-process copper products, and finished products meet company, customer, and applicable industry specifications. The role supports safe and efficient production by identifying nonconforming material, communicating quality concerns promptly, maintaining product and sample traceability, and ensuring accurate laboratory and inspection records.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collect representative samples of copper concentrate, scrap, cathodes, rod, wire, billets, alloys, fluxes, chemicals, and other production materials in accordance with approved procedures.
• Perform physical, dimensional, and chemical testing of incoming, in-process, and finished products using approved laboratory methods and inspection equipment.
• Conduct visual inspections for surface defects, contamination, oxidation, cracks, inclusions, improper shape, packaging damage, labeling errors, and other nonconformities.
• Verify product characteristics against specifications, including chemical composition, copper purity, conductivity, dimensions, weight, hardness, tensile properties, coating condition, and surface finish, as applicable.
• Use and maintain testing and measuring equipment such as scales, calipers, micrometers, gauges, spectrometers, conductivity meters, hardness testers, and related laboratory instruments.
• Record inspection and test results accurately in laboratory logs, quality-control forms, spreadsheets, ERP systems, electronic quality systems, and other required records.
• Maintain proper identification and traceability of samples and materials, including heat, lot, batch, coil, or production identification, throughout the sampling, testing, hold, and release process.
• Maintain retention samples and related records in accordance with established procedures, when applicable.
• Review certificates of analysis, receiving documents, production records, and customer specifications to confirm material compliance.
• Identify and document nonconforming or suspect material and initiate quality holds, segregation, or additional inspection in accordance with established procedures.
• Immediately communicate quality concerns and nonconforming conditions to the Quality Control Supervisor and appropriate production personnel.
• Assist with material holds, segregation, labeling, reinspection, disposition, and release of nonconforming or suspect material.
• Enter inspection results, test results, material status, holds, releases, and other required quality information into applicable ERP, laboratory, or quality-management systems.
• Monitor critical process-control points and perform scheduled line inspections, audits, and verification checks during production.
• Support root-cause analysis, corrective action, preventive action, and continuous-improvement activities related to quality defects, customer complaints, rework, and scrap reduction.
• Calibrate or verify measuring and testing equipment according to established schedules and report damaged, expired, or out-of-tolerance equipment.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory and inspection area in accordance with 5S, housekeeping, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Follow all company policies, standard operating procedures, work instructions, quality-system requirements, and applicable environmental, health, and safety requirements.
• Assist with internal audits, customer audits, certification audits, and quality-system documentation as assigned.
• Communicate quality requirements and concerns professionally with production, maintenance, warehouse, purchasing, and management personnel.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• One to three years of experience in quality control, manufacturing, laboratory testing, metals processing, or a related industrial environment preferred; equivalent education, training, and experience will be considered.
• Ability to read and interpret work instructions, product specifications, technical drawings, inspection plans, and certificates of analysis.
• Basic math skills, including decimals, fractions, percentages, unit conversions, and measurement calculations.
• Proficiency with basic computer applications, including email, spreadsheets, data-entry systems, ERP systems, or electronic quality systems.
• Strong attention to detail, documentation skills, problem-solving ability, and follow-through.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with production and quality teams.

Preferred

• Associate degree or technical training in metallurgy, chemistry, materials science, manufacturing technology, quality assurance, or a related field.
• Experience in copper refining, smelting, casting, rolling, extrusion, wire drawing, recycling, or metals fabrication**.**
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, statistical process control, corrective-action processes, and document-control practices.
• Experience using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), optical emission spectroscopy (OES), conductivity testing, tensile testing, hardness testing, and other metallurgical laboratory equipment.
• Knowledge of sampling methods, measurement-system analysis, calibration practices, and basic data trending**.**

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb stairs, and work in indoor plants, laboratories, warehouses, and outdoor areas for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry materials or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work around moving equipment, forklifts, hot materials, dust, fumes, noise, chemicals, and variable temperatures while using required personal protective equipment.
• Ability to work scheduled shifts, overtime, weekends, or holidays as production demands require.
• Must comply with all plant safety requirements, including lockout/tagout awareness, hazard communication, PPE, and environmental procedures.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role is measured by:

• Accurate and timely completion of inspections, testing, and quality documentation.
• Consistent identification, containment, and escalation of nonconforming material.
• Accurate maintenance of product, sample, lot, heat, batch, and production traceability.
• Adherence to sampling, testing, safety, and quality-system procedures.
• Proper care, verification, and calibration of laboratory and inspection equipment.
• Accurate and timely entry of quality information into applicable systems.
• Effective support for scrap reduction, defect prevention, corrective actions, and customer-quality requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to legally protected status. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities, consistent with applicable law.

Pay: From $26.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person