Quality Engineer & Lab Supervisor

Who We Are 

Do you want to work for a company named to the Best Places to Work in Rubber and Plastics?  Zeon Chemicals is the leading developer and supplier of innovative polymers, including synthetic elastomers and specialty chemicals and other selected products used in countless applications worldwide. We develop superior elastomers for the hottest parts of automotive engines, polymers for longer lasting laser printer rolls, synthetic rubber to survive oil wells' most aggressive fluids and cyclo-olefin plastics for today's advanced medical and electronic applications.   

Our team is outstanding at what they do, and we enjoy a great company culture and work environment!  This combination truly makes us a best place to work!

Purpose:

Guarantees quality of daily production and is responsible for the support of product quality initiatives. Develops and trains lab staff in laboratory procedures and best practices. Performs data analysis and guides the Plant as a technical subject matter expert.

Job Functions/Accountabilities (Essential & Marginal):

Ensures adherence to all safety procedures and promotes behavioral safety initiatives.

Responsible for all lab activities involving quality assurance and quality control:

• Organizes and directs the daily activities of the plant lab.
• Supervises laboratory personnel, including goal setting, performance reviews, timekeeping, and scheduling as needed.
• Maintains lab procedures and testing methods for consistent results.
• Develops and trains laboratory technicians, ensuring timely certification and recertification is completed and documented.
• Ensures that testing meets both internal and external standards.
• Reviews lab controls, conducts Gage R&Rs and completes data analysis to ensure reliable test results.
• Ensures compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Seeks to continuously improve testing equipment and standards.
• Ensures correct finished product grading for all Kentucky Plant, Tolled, and Imported materials.
• Manages laboratory equipment, ensuring appropriate troubleshooting, calibration, preventative maintenance, and repairs are completed and documented.
• Manages laboratory supplies, ensuring materials are kept in stock and reordered when needed.
• Ensures continued compliance with ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001.
• Administers other quality system processes as needed including grade change requests, return goods dispositions, overaged reports, and interlaboratory cross checking.
• Manages capital projects for the Kentucky Plant Lab.
• Utilizes change management processes in the Kentucky Plant Lab.
• Controls spending to meet the Kentucky Plant Technical Department operating budget.
• Coordinates maintenance and contractor activities to support the lab.
• Leads and supports investigation of quality and productivity non-conformances with timely implementation of solutions.
• Tracks non-prime production.

Drive continuous improvement in the Kentucky Plant toward world class standards in the following key areas:

• Zeon elastomer product technology.
• Zeon process control including analytical technology.
• Support and implementation of strategic improvement projects.

Qualifications:

Education: 

Associate’s degree in chemistry is required*

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering is strongly preferred. 

*A relevant associate’s degree combined with a minimum of 10 years of experience will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s or master’s degree 

Experience: 

• 5+ years of Quality Assurance and/or Chemical Manufacturing are required.
• Previous leadership experience is required.

Special Qualifications:

• Proven leadership skills, rational, logical, fact-driven decision making, demonstrated planning, organizing, and project management experience with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong Microsoft Office knowledge is expected.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team is required. 
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously is required.
• Excellent organizational skills are required. 

Work Conditions:

Laboratory environment in a chemical complex. Work conditions are physically demanding, which requires standing, cleaning, reaching, visual discernment, turning, squatting, kneeling, pushing, pulling, lifting and handling chemicals including acids. 

Less than 10% domestic travel.

Benefits:

Zeon employees enjoy growth opportunities as well as a highly competitive salary and benefits program.  

Zeon Chemicals does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.