Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.
Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.
Quality Specialist - Raw Materials is responsible for assisting the Quality Manager in the day-to-day operation in support of the Quality Management System. The primary role will be to ensure that raw materials meet acceptance criteria and perform properly, organize and execute controls on incoming raw materials, follow up with manufacturing, supply chain and suppliers on non-conformities and support the root cause analysis on non-conformities. Raw materials include core board, wrapper and bundler poly, boxes, glue, pulp, tissue/towel paper from the paper machines, and chemicals. The raw material disposition ultimately determines whether the raw materials can be used or need to be returned.
Primary responsibilities include:
Responsible for ensuring control processes are in place and applied for incoming raw material.
Initiate the initial raw material acceptance by ensuring COAs have been reviewed and filed to ensure compliance.
Inspect and/or test incoming raw material and maintain the associated testing equipment and database per QMS requirements.
Maintain communication with suppliers to track material performance, manage deliveries, and participate in supplier evaluations.
Troubleshoot and resolve supplier issues.
Notifies suppliers of any nonconformance and provides performance data.
Communicates raw material NCRs to suppliers and manages the return to vendor (RTV) process.
Work across organizational boundaries with paper, converting and warehouse team members to align on material disposition.
Assesses all internal raw material and parent roll non conformances (NCRs), obtains feedback from operating team members, investigates NCR, and determines disposition.
Leads Raw Material Review Board meetings and documents the meeting with minutes.
Update, manage, and analyze material data for reporting purposes.
Generates several routine reports. Examples include rework/closeout, chemical expirations, supplier credits and supplier poly trends.
Participate in periodic supplier site audits, which would require some travel.
Participates in internal and external audits of the Quality Management System (QMS) and helps to verify corrective actions have been implemented.
Actively reviews and updates relevant QMS requirements (QPs, Work Instructions, forms, etc.) as improvement opportunities are identified.
Understand material flows through the FQT business systems (SAP, ERP, MES) from raw materials through finished goods.
Generate genealogy/traceability records as needed and actively works to continuously improve the quality and accuracy of those records.
Perform special testing in support of product investigations (nonconforming goods, complaints, recalls and returned goods).
Perform other duties as necessary when directed to do so, including participation in the Quality team weekend duty rotation.
Assists Procurement, Planning and Warehouse in monitoring any upcoming material obsolescence – ensuring that outstanding RMAs are cleared and accurate in-house quantities are communicated to help Procurement and Planning run out efficiently and effectively.
Observes all safety rules and always uses the proper safety equipment.
The ideal candidate should possess the following:
Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a manufacturing operation with a recognized Quality Management System such as ISO, GMP, etc.
Minimum of 2 years’ experience in raw material management and inventory control.
Bachelor’s Degree in a technical discipline preferred but not required.
Experience with good laboratory management practices.
Experience communicating with suppliers and handling supplier complaints.
Strong analytical thinking skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft office software applications, especially Excel.
SAP, ERP, eQCM and ETQ software knowledge strongly preferred.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret test methods and results to provide raw material dispositions.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, work independently, use time efficiently, manage multiple priorities, and pay attention to detail.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and technical training documents.
Ability to communicate/teach/explain procedures in group or one-on-one settings with the focus on improving communication and understanding of how/why procedures must be followed to generate a good product or to make jobs more efficient/easier.
• Team Members interested in the Quality Specialist -Raw Materials position should submit an Internal Application online through Workday Careers on or before March 31, 2026.
• Team members must have completed 90 Day probationary period, demonstrated positive team relations and cannot be at a Written Warning II corrective action level or greater during the posting period.
• Team Members selected may be required to change shifts.
• Qualified Team Members will be selected based on demonstrated work history, manufacturing experience, educational background, demonstrated behavior, effectiveness in working with teams, and personal interview.
First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.
First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.