There are many crucial people in a manufacturing team that contribute to the success of a business. From the maintenance technicians to the quality engineers, everyone needs the right skills to drive a company forward.
A quality engineer is someone who works to maintain and promote the quality of manufacturing products. These individuals devise quality tests, handle documentation, and play a crucial role in fixing issues when they emerge.
At Sigma, our specialist insight into the manufacturing sector has allowed us to place many excellent quality engineers into the appropriate roles. To help you make the best hiring decisions, we’ve put together a guide on the features to look for in your quality engineer.
A Background in Manufacturing & Development
A quality engineer needs a strong understanding of the development workflows and standards present within your industry. Most QA professionals have a background in both development and manufacturing, which they’ll be able to showcase during the interview process.
Consider asking your candidates what kind of regulations they would consider when designing a testing process for your product. Additionally, remember to assess their development abilities by discussing the type of automated infrastructures they would build to maintain high-quality production in your business. Previous knowledge of things like Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, APQP and more may be essential.
Strong Communication Skills
Communication skills are an essential part of almost any position in the manufacturing sector. However, quality engineers must frequently liaise with other departments and suggest ways of overcoming common issues. This means that the most successful people in this sector must be able to explain complex topics to people from various backgrounds.
Without clear communication, the risk of failed projects starts to rise. Detailed oral and written communication is crucial in the manufacturing sector, as one misunderstanding can lead to dangerous and expensive mistakes. Ensure your quality engineer knows how to work with and support your team through great communication.
Excellent Problem Solving
Much of a Quality Engineer’s role relies on their ability to find faults in the manufacturing process and resolve them. There are many different methodologies that QAs use. For instance, the “eight disciplines of problem-solving” is a concept first developed by the Ford Motor Company to assist with manufacturing success. Ask your candidates if they’re familiar with the 8 disciplines, including planning, teamwork, and defining a problem, during the interview process.
If your quality manager is particularly effective at problem-solving, they may also demonstrate an ability to think ahead and identify possible problems that may happen in advance. This process may make it easier for common issues in your workflow to be addressed as early as possible. A proactive attitude is incredibly valuable in a quality engineer, as it means they can spend less time resolving problems, and more time maintaining high-performance levels.
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is a crucial attribute for Quality professionals. Whether they’re inspecting a manufacturing process, or managing a team, your QA engineer needs to be able to find faults quickly and reduce the risk of errors.
Importantly, when using their skills in attention to detail, the best manufacturing quality engineers don’t just focus on immediate needs and small problems. The right person for the role will know how to see the big picture, and how each project will impact the organisation. When your quality engineer can see the bigger picture, they can use their knowledge to influence the rest of your manufacturing team, minimise risk, and improve productivity in your organisation.
An Analytical and Methodical Mind
Quality engineering in the manufacturing sector can involve a lot of documentation, which means that your employees need to be exact with their work.
Engineers also solve complex problems frequently using analytical concepts and mathematical algorithms. Be sure to check that your candidates know how to use their analytical skills. Some of your candidates may have advanced problem-solving and mathematical skills, while others may have experience using software programmes that are ideal for the manufacturing sector. During the interview process, ask your people what they can do to solve issues quickly for your team.
Works Well Under Pressure
Finally, the manufacturing space is often very demanding. As the industry continues to evolve, it’s a good idea to make sure that your quality engineers can work according to tight deadlines and high levels of pressure. Quality engineers need to be prepared to handle stressful situations without compromising on their standards.
One way that a quality engineer can keep their stress levels to a minimum is to learn how to work effectively as part of a team. During a competency-based interview, ask your candidates what they’ve done in the past to keep a team working smoothly together. Examine their delegation skills and their ability to empower other people with questions like: “Tell us about a time when you worked with other people to overcome a tight deadline.”
About Sigma Recruitment
We are ‘South Wales Recruitment Specialists’ based in Cardiff, Wales.
We offer a full range of permanent recruitment solutions to many of South Wales’ and the South Wests’ leading manufacturing, technical, automotive and life science organisations. This includes companies in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Ebbw Vale, Port Talbot, Bridgend and the surrounding areas in South Wales.
Sigma Recruitment has one of the largest and most comprehensive recruitment candidate databases in the area. To get in touch with our team call us now on 02920 450 100. Alternatively, contact us here.
