Director of Inspection & Quality Control

Position Overview

The Director of Inspection and Quality Control leads, oversees, and performs inspection activities within our ISO 9001-certified precision sheet metal manufacturing facility. The ideal candidate will ensure strict compliance with quality standards, drive continuous improvement, and maintain a culture of excellence in inspections and quality assurance processes. This position requires extensive experience with measurements, systems, and reporting including First Article Inspections (FAI), non-conforming materials management, customer returns, calibration processes, and supervising a team of inspectors. This is a full-time on-site role with external customer focus and internal reporting responsibilities to the Leadership Team, including the Chief Operations Officer and Production Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

Inspection & Quality Control

• Oversee First Article Inspections (FAI), ensuring compliance with industry standards and customer-specific requirements.
• Implement and maintain inspection processes for incoming, in-process, and final product inspections.
• Drive adherence to ISO 9001 and other applicable standards such as AS9100D. Comply with industry best practices.
• Lead the ISO audit and re-certification process for the company.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with calibration procedures for inspection tools and equipment.

People Management & Leadership

• Lead and supervise the quality inspection team, providing training, mentoring, and performance evaluations.
• Foster a quality-driven culture and ensure staff adherence to company quality policies and procedures.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts to resolve quality issues effectively.

Non-Conforming Materials & Customer Returns

• Oversee Material Review Board (MRB) activities and manage non-conforming materials.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes for customer returns and internal quality issues.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive action plans to eliminate recurring issues.
• Complete customer-issued Corrective Action Requests (CAR’s), Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCAR’s) as needed.
• Interface with customer and supplier Quality, Engineering, and Operations subject matter experts to resolve Quality-related issues.

ERP & Data Management

• Utilize ERP systems (Epicor preferred) to track quality metrics, inspection reports, and non-conforming materials.
• Report Quality Key Performance Indicators to internal stakeholders.
• Maintain and improve digital documentation of inspection records, certifications, and compliance reports.
• Drive data-driven decision-making for continuous quality improvements.

Continuous Improvement & Compliance

• Support internal and external audits, ensuring alignment with ISO 9001 and customer requirements.
• Develop and implement process improvement initiatives to enhance quality and efficiency.
• Stay up to date with industry regulations, standards, and best practices in sheet metal manufacturing.

Qualifications & Skills

• 7+ years of experience in quality control, preferably within a precision fabrication, CNC machining, or sheet metal manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, First Article Inspections (FAI), and calibration procedures.
• Proven leadership experience in supervising and training inspection teams.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing non-conforming materials, customer returns, and corrective actions.
• Ability to work Saturday shifts and overtime as needed to support Production Operations.
• Ability to perform job duties that require extended periods of standing, sitting, measuring, bending, and lifting up to 40 pounds.
• Experience working with ERP systems (Epicor a strong plus).
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills.
• Strong understanding of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) and blueprint reading.
• Ability to interact with customers and internal teams to resolve quality concerns efficiently.

Why Work at Salem Metal?

• Our customers and our team members are the core of our business. We’re focused on the well-being of our team members, who utilize their skills every day to meet the needs of our customers.
• We serve many markets – Medical Equipment, Measurement & Test, Industrial, Electronics, Security, Manufacturing and more – with products that improve the human condition and quality of life.
• We accomplish our work with a people-first atmosphere, with a benefits and services package provided by our PEO (Professional Employer Organization), yet we operate with the agility and drive of a small company.
• Our company leadership is on site daily. SMI has been a proud supporter of our local community for more than 55 years.
• Our new custom-built 100,000 sf state-of-the art facility in Middleton, MA is a great working environment to be in, with ample room for growth. 5S and housekeeping are part of our culture of high-performance.
• SMI’s core values are Safety, Quality, Integrity, Accountability, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement.
• We have top-quality equipment, machinery, and tools to work with. Build your skills, learn from our in-house experts and our partners, and advance your career.
• Company celebrations, recognition events, and an annual bonus are all part of the mix at Salem Metal, Inc. People make the difference on our team.