Job Details
About our family of companies:
We are on a mission to bring learning to life! At our family of companies, Learning Resources, Educational Insights, and hand2mind, we create a unique range of toys, educational products and supplemental curriculum trusted by teachers and loved by families alike. Voted among the Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces for the last four consecutive years, we are a 350-person strong, family-owned organization dedicated to helping kids succeed in school and develop a love of learning. In addition to high-quality, hands-on products like VersaTiles and Cuisenaire Rods, we make award-winning toys, including top sellers such as the Pretend & Play Cash Register, the Farmer's Market Color Sorting Set and Toy of the Year winner Botley the Coding Robot as well as Educational Insights top sellers Kanoodle, GeoSafari Jr. series, and Playfoam. We pride ourselves on being committed to our employee's personal and professional development, a thriving culture and a diverse, creative atmosphere. Along with our culture and competitive benefits package, we offer opportunities for training and development by Harvard and UCLA professors as well as in-demand, motivating external speakers. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you'll come join our award-winning team today!
Position Description:
We are currently seeking a Quality Inspector II. This position will require thorough knowledge of inspections and audits in the areas of incoming shipments, assembled goods, order picking procedures, new product pack outs, detailed inspection of customer orders to ensure accuracy, and standard warehouse operations. The ability to properly fill out reports and provide detailed metrics using Microsoft Office. This role requires communicating and working with other areas of the company including, quality assurance, product development sales/marketing, customer service, and purchasing with minimum supervision.
Scope of Responsibilities:
The individual in this role will:
* Inspect all incoming product per set QC criteria before releasing to warehouse for placement, picking, and shipping, which includes accuracy, functionality, and damage control.
* Lead the pack out process for new assemblies, working with product development to identify component placement in new product.
* Audit in-house assemblies, direct customer orders, and larger special customer orders to ensure accuracy, appearance, and compliance according to AQL standards.
* Work with the Operations Team/Supervisors to maintain a regular inspection plan and enforce accountability when errors occur.
* Suggest continuous improvement opportunities where applicable for incoming inspection, assemblies, pack outs, shipments, and order picking directly to warehouse supervisors or to BOM.
* Learn, evaluate, and maximize the process flow of product through the warehouse system.
* Cross-train with other inspectors, providing support and coverage.
* Manage data supporting inspection findings and be able to report and present metrics to management with little or no supervision.
* Manage internal product rework by coordinating the process with the QA Manager and operations team when applicable with little or no supervision.
* Keep a high level of product knowledge for existing and new product.
* Work closely with Product Development, Sales, Marketing, Quality, Operations, and Management.
* Other duties for this role will be assigned as necessary/appropriate.
Requirements/Preferences:
* 4 year High School degree required, some college preferred
* Desire to learn and grow in operations and quality control
* Experience in Quality Control, preferably with inspections and audits
* Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Warehouse Management Systems etc.)
* Ability to read, comprehend, analyze, create, and communicate metrics based on findings
* Ability to multi-task within a warehouse environment
* Be motivated, flexible, independent, organized, detail-oriented, and innovative
Ideal Attributes:
* Strong attention to detail
* Outgoing with clear communication skills
* Be a self-starter with confidence to problem solve and make decisions independently
* Possess strong organizational skills
* Be able to have open communication and build relationships with warehouse/operations team and supervisors
* Be able to lead and complete projects effectively with little or no supervision
* Confidence to instruct, take the lead, and perform duties under pressure
* Effective skills in problem solving and communication with the appropriate personnel/department
* Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) a plus
Physical Demands:
* Standing (warehouse environment) - up to 85% of the time
* Sitting - up to 15% of the time
* Computer usage - 30%
* Travel - 0%
We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.
Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.