The Assembly Inspection Supervisor is the frontline leader responsible for managing, assigning, and overseeing in process and final inspections performed at designated hold points throughout mechanical and electromechanical assembly operations. This role ensures inspection personnel verify torque values, confirm simple GD&T features, perform dimensional checks, validate assembly sequence requirements, and ensure that components and assemblies conform to drawings, specifications, procedures, and acceptance criteria.
The Supervisor provides day to day direction to Assembly Inspectors, ensures inspection documentation is complete and accurate, enforces process discipline, and collaborates with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality Assurance to resolve issues impacting product quality and release.
This position is critical in ensuring consistent product quality, preventing assembly related nonconformances, and supporting the safe, compliant execution of manufacturing operations.
Job Responsibilities
Inspection Operations Leadership
• Supervises daily activities of assembly inspectors performing in process, final, and hold point inspections within assembly operations.
• Assigns and prioritizes inspection work to meet production schedules and ensure no inspection hold point is bypassed.
• Provides technical guidance on interpreting drawings, GD&T requirements, torque specifications, assembly sequences, and acceptance criteria.
• Ensures consistent application of inspection methods, inspection plans, and workmanship standards.
• Maintains adequate staffing levels and cross training to support inspection coverage across all shifts and assembly lines.
Execution of Assembly Inspections
• Ensures inspectors verify torque using approved tools and methods, confirming calibration of torque instruments before use.
• Oversees dimensional checks using calipers, micrometers, height gauges, templates, and other precision tools necessary for simple feature verification.
• Ensures inspectors verify GD&T characteristics such as flatness, perpendicularity, concentricity, positional checks, and feature locations as applicable.
• Confirms inspectors validate assembly steps, part traceability, identification marks, and kit completeness prior to assembly progression.
• Ensures inspectors verify cleanliness, proper fastener installation, component fit up, thread engagement, locking features, adhesive/compound application, and other assembly workmanship requirements.
Quality & Documentation Oversight
• Ensures inspection documentation, logs, forms, check sheets, and digital entries are complete, accurate, and traceable.
• Ensures nonconformances are documented, tagged, segregated, and communicated immediately; supports defect investigations and re inspection after corrective actions.
• Reviews inspection records for accuracy and completeness prior to work release.
• Ensures proper use and care of inspection tools, gauges, and measurement equipment.
Training, Qualification & Personnel Development
• Ensures assembly inspectors receive training and maintain proficiency in torque tool use, GD&T interpretation, measurement methods, and documentation practices.
• Supports onboarding of new inspectors through training, demonstration, and evaluation activities.
• Coaches and evaluates inspectors to ensure consistent application of inspection techniques and adherence to procedures.
• Identifies skill gaps and coordinates additional training or certification when needed.
Cross Functional Coordination
• Collaborates with Manufacturing, Engineering, and QA to resolve assembly or inspection issues, clarify drawing requirements, or update acceptance criteria.
• Communicates inspection status, risks, and quality concerns to QC Manager and assembly leadership.
• Participates in pre job briefs, problem solving meetings, and production readiness reviews.
Decision Making and Impact
The Assembly Inspection Supervisor makes decisions affecting the acceptance of assemblies, identification and disposition of nonconformances, readiness for next step assembly operations, and the quality and completeness of inspection documentation. These decisions directly influence product quality, reliability, and compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.
Competencies:
Business: Inspection planning; scheduling; documentation accuracy; quality risk awareness.
Leadership: Team supervision; coaching; prioritization; conflict resolution.
Interpersonal: Communication; collaboration with Manufacturing and Engineering; technical explanation.
Personal Attributes: Integrity; attention to detail; discipline; accountability; safety orientation.
Professional: GD&T basics; mechanical assembly inspection; torque verification; measurement tools; reading drawings.
Position Requirements:
• The ability to obtain/maintain a US Department of Energy (DOE) / NRC “Q" Clearance one year from hire date.
Minimum Education:
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical degree, military technical training, or apprenticeship in mechanical, manufacturing, or quality discipline preferred.
Minimum Experience:
• Experience performing assembly inspections, in process inspections, or mechanical quality control work in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience reading engineering drawings, GD&T symbols, and assembly specifications.
• Experience using torque tools, precision measurement instruments, and inspection documentation systems.
• Prior leadership, mentoring, or supervisory experience preferred.
Preferred Education and Experience:
• Strong ability to interpret and apply GD&T principles.
