Quality Engineer

About Umicore Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Electro Optic Materials Power in space. Vision at night. Coatings thinner than human hair. Umicore is a world leader in material solutions for the space, optics and electronics sectors – enabling every day cutting-edge technologies. We guarantee our customers secure access to supply, plus recycling technologies that give materials a new lease of life. To produce materials with even higher performance, and provide recycling to new markets, we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new processes. Which is where you come in.

Job Purpose The Quality Engineer is responsible for supporting and improving product and process quality across manufacturing. The role works closely with Production, Technical, Quality, Suppliers and Customers to ensure products and processes meet customer, regulatory and internal requirements.

The Quality Engineer will use techniques, data analysis and continuous improvement methodologies to identify and resolve quality issues, lead continuous improvement projects and improve process performance across production.

Your Key Accountabilities Product and Process Quality

• Assist with ensuring products are manufactured in accordance with customer specifications, drawings, procedures and internal quality standards
• Support incoming, in-process and final inspection activities
• Carry out incoming inspections of raw materials, components and consumables. Record and collect data to better evaluate supplier performance
• Collaborate with production teams to identify opportunities to improve process capability, consistency and product quality
• Ensure inspection and scanning areas are organised and appropriately equipped to efficiently manage product flow
• Support the creation and implementation of new process flows covering goods-in through to goods-out.
• Support post-processing activities, including batch scanning and baking

Quality Inspection and Data Analysis

• Collect, analyse and interpret quality and production data to identify trends, recurring issues and opportunities for improvement
• Maintain accurate quality records and ensure inspection results are appropriately documented
• Utilise statistical and analytical techniques to support data-driven decision making
• Support the investigation of non-conforming product and ensure appropriate containment actions are implemented

Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Actions

• Participate in root cause investigations and corrective action activities
• Participate in 8D investigations at the request of the Quality Manager
• Develop and implement corrective and preventative actions to eliminate the recurrence of quality issues
• Monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions and verify that improvements have been sustained

Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence

• Identify, support and lead continuous improvement initiatives across production
• Lead and participate in Operational Excellence projects focused on improving quality, productivity and process reliability
• Support improvement projects
• Use lean and continuous improvement methodologies to reduce defects, waste and variation
• Identify opportunities to improve process controls and reduce the risk of human error

Customers and Suppliers

• Work with suppliers to ensure materials, components and consumables meet UCS requirements
• Support the investigation and resolution of supplier quality issues
• Maintain the incoming substrate inspection process ensuring all records are accurate and any non-conforming material is reported and contained
• Support the investigation and resolution of customer quality concerns

Who we are looking for

• 3+ years experience within a regulated manufacturing, engineering or quality environment
• Excellent IT skills with proficiency in data analysis and statistical methods e.g Minitab, SigmaXL
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to excellence
• Understanding of Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence and how it relates to precision manufacturing
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Understanding of Six Sigma Methodologies
• Ability to work with multi-national sites and personnel
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent record keeping

What We Offer We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?