Quality Lab Supervisor

About Kennametal

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Job Title: Quality Supervisor
Location: Huntsville, AL

The Lab Supervisor is responsible for managing the daily operations of the Lab. This person will promote Kennametal's management-based safety culture within the lab. This person should be able to perform analysis on Tungsten, Tungsten Carbide, and Molybdenum products using a variety of testing equipment and instrumentation as needed. This individual maintains the integrity of testing methods for finished, in-process, and raw materials, as well as, maintaining the testing results for the environmental concern of the facility.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assigns tasks and duties to Lab personnel as needed.
• Trains and coaches Lab technicians and personnel.
• Responsible for procedure development as assigned by the Quality Manager.
• Evaluates all types of test data as required, make decisions for re-testing, and evaluate unexpected or questionable data.
• Responsible for incorporating new instrumentation or instrument upgrades as assigned by the Quality Manager.
• Develops, tests, and documents testing methods for instrument upgrades/new instrumentation. Trains lab personnel on new instrument operations.
• Assures proper care of instrumentation. Monitors instrument maintenance, responsible for instrument repair and preventative maintenance.
• Is responsible for revising departmental ISO documentation as assigned by the Quality Manager.
• Completes internal quality audits as assigned by the Quality Manager.
• May serve as a team leader or facilitator for process improvement, cost reduction, and lean manufacturing programs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Equipment Used: A wide variety of testing equipment and instrumentation including:

• Analytical balances
• Light and electron microscope imaging systems.
• Metallography sample preparation. Metallurgical testing.
• AA, XRF, and DCP spectrometers
• Malvern Particle distribution analyzers
• Physical testing apparatus: FSSS, Ro-Tap (Sieve analysis), Hall Flow, Powder Density.
• Carbon, Sulfur, Oxygen, and Nitrogen analysis instrumentation.
• Microwave Digestion system
• Sintering furnace operation; CNC press operation.

Skills/Knowtedge Required:

• Supervisory and Leadership skills
• Knowledge of measuring and testing techniques.
• Advanced mathematical skills
• Knowledge of inorganic chemistry, knowledge of metallurgy is preferred. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Highly competent in using Microsoft programs. Able to analyze network programs supporting lab and manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and test data distribution.
• Must be detail-oriented and able to work under pressure in a demanding fast-paced environment.
• Basic knowledge of manufacturing processes

Experience Guidelines:

Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry or Engineering preferred. Preference will be given to candidates with previous supervisory experience in a powder processing environment.

To be considered for this position, you must be legally authorized to work in the US (excluding Optional Practice Testing) and not require sponsorship now or in the future.

Kennametal Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer