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Lead Quality Inspector (Contract - Outside IR35)

Location: Norton
Start: ASAP
Rate: £25 (Outside IR35)
Contract: 6 months initially, with strong potential to become permanent
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 07:00-16:00
Friday: 07:00-13:30

We are currently seeking an experienced Lead Quality Inspector to join our Inspection & Metrology team on a contract basis. This is an excellent opportunity to work in a high-precision engineering environment, with the chance to secure a permanent position for the right candidate.

The Role

As Lead Quality Inspector, you will take ownership of all dimensional inspection and measurement activities within the Inspection Lab. You will ensure that all components and assemblies meet engineering and quality requirements while driving continuous improvement in accuracy, repeatability, and efficiency of measurement systems.

You will also lead and support the inspection team, maintain compliance with the Quality Management System (QMS), and provide technical support across engineering, production, and supplier quality.

Key Responsibilities

Inspection Planning & Coordination

Plan, prioritise, and allocate inspection workloads based on production and project demands

Review drawings, specifications, and work requests to select the correct inspection methods and equipment

Monitor and report inspection throughput, bottlenecks, and quality performance

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

Ensure compliance with Norton's QMS and Laboratory Manual

Maintain and improve inspection control plans, procedures, and documentation

Support internal and external audits

Identify and drive improvements in accuracy, turnaround time, and cost of measurement

Promote 5S, error-proofing, and digitalisation within the lab

Measurement System Assurance

Lead Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Gage R&R studies

Maintain calibration traceability and control of calibration intervals

Investigate and resolve measurement system issues such as drift, bias, or uncertainty

People Development

Maintain skills and competency matrices for the inspection team

Coach and support inspectors in GD&T, CMM programming, and advanced metrology techniques

Promote a culture of precision, ownership, and continuous improvement

Cross-Functional Support

Provide accurate measurement data to support problem-solving and root-cause analysis

Work closely with Engineering, Production, and Supplier Quality

Support PFMEA, control plans, and fixture validation activities

Experience & Skills Required

HNC/HND in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent experience)

Proven experience in inspection and metrology in automotive, aerospace, or precision engineering

Strong GD&T knowledge and tolerance analysis

Experience with CMM programming and portable measurement systems (e.g. FARO arm, laser scanner, shadowgraph)

Hands-on experience with MSA, Gage R&R, and statistical data analysis

Knowledge of ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 (ISO 17025 preferred)

Key Competencies

High attention to detail and accuracy

Strong organisation and coordination skills

Leadership and mentoring ability

Data-driven and continuous-improvement mindset

Effective communication across functions