Job Purpose

With limited guidance, the Plant Process Chemist (PPC) is responsible for undertaking process improvement projects primarily aimed at the manufacture of existing products and the testing associated with those products. They will also lead key cost saving initiatives for the Waukegan site including the Slow-Moving Obsolete Inventory (SLOB) and local rework processes with the relevant parties. Primary support activities for this position include the introduction of new products to the plant via the Critical Formula/Scale-up process and batch correction assistance for non-conforming material. The PPC will also manage quality near misses, customer complaint and Internal Non-Conformance Report (INCR) investigations and site audits. These objectives must be accomplished within the requirements of AkzoNobel and its customers using a strong, chemistry-based principles and data-driven indicators. This individual will need to positively and constructively interact with all other local, regional, and global personnel to facilitate a well-run production site and business. 

Position: 1st shift postion, hours 08:00 am to 04:30 pm CST

Key Responsibilities

• Promoting health, safety, and environmental regulations by ensuring that standards, policies, and procedures are adhered to in compliance with corporate, federal, state, and local requirements. 
• Ensuring that all site employees have awareness and training on site quality KPI targets, the quality statement and principles, and the various quality standard operating procedures.
• Embodying a quality-focused mindset that sets an example for all departments on site.
• Championing, developing, and implementing optimized quality assurance procedures and systems to boost site and product quality.
• Leading RCCA events by identifying potential sources of error and suggest ways to eliminate them using Six Sigma/DMAIC strategies and problem solving. 
• Conforming to quality standards, customer specifications, and site quality guidelines and requirements.
• Connecting the proposed corrective actions/solutions on identified problems through the complete process to address root cause factors properly and permanently.
• Actively educating, coaching, and mentoring other departments with both hand-on and classroom help. 
• Verifying procedures, training, and documentation updates are made for preventative and corrective actions.
• Managing the SLOB, Rework, Scrap, Scale-up and critical formula process. Identified and address actions with relevant parties (i.e. R&D, planning, production, specification custodians, etc.).
• Customer complaint and INCR investigation including experiment design, testing, root cause investigation, identified multidisciplinary team, corrective action verification, etc.
• Quality Near miss log maintenance and action driven solutions.
• Supervising the corrective actions associated with problem batches in QC and Shading and their progress towards final approval. 
• Manage introduction of new packaging.
• Troubleshooting issues impacting quality, process variation, and process capability with the production team found during the manufacturing process.
• Supporting external and internal audits.
• Attending and actively participating in meetings with production and others, especially those contributing to continuous improvement efforts.
• Following the MOC process and helping scope temporary MOCs that are product/production focused.
• Performing other duties as required to contribute to the success of Waukegan Aerospace and Akzo Nobel Inc.

Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in science (chemistry/physics or alike) preferred.  
• Experience: Minimum 2 - 5 years in a manufacturing support lab, coatings/polymers preferred. 
• Knowledge: Paint formulation. Familiar with paint manufacturing processes such as mixing, dispersion, and milling. Familiar with upscaling formulas from the lab to production level scale.
• Knowledge in aerospace business/AS9100D preferred.
• Experience in interpreting policies and guidance documents and can correctly apply them as appropriate to related activities.
• Identify procedural gaps and product risk and where appropriate, recommend contingency plans, and strategies to mitigate compliance.
• Problem solving. Driving effective problem solving and corrective action techniques to resolve quality issues: data driven decision making. 

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary range for this role is: $84,000 to $96,000. This is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.

401K retirement savings with 6% company match
Medical insurance with HSA
Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D benefits
Generous vacation, sick and holiday pay
Short & Long term disability
Paid Parental leave after 1 year
Career growth opportunities
Active Diversity & Inclusion Networks
Employee referral bonus
Employee appreciation days

Competencies