Quality Assurance Engineer

The Lasko Quality Assurance Engineer is responsible for determining why Lasko products fail after they reach the consumer. This position performs teardown and failure analysis on units returned to the Fort Worth distribution center, establishes root cause, and carries each issue into a documented corrective action with the function that owns the fix.

This is an on-site position located at the Fort Worth, TX distribution center, supporting all Lasko brands and all manufacturing and supplier sources.

Essential Functions

Returned Product Analysis

• Perform teardown and failure analysis on units returned from retailers and consumers.
• Determine the failure mode and root cause of each unit investigated, and distinguish design, component, supplier, manufacturing, shipping, and consumer-use causes.
• Sample returned units at a frequency and quantity sufficient to represent the SKUs and sources under review.
• Maintain retention, labeling, and disposition of units held for investigation.
• Identify test and measurement equipment the site does not have and submit requests for it.

Root Cause and Corrective Action

• Apply structured problem-solving methods to every investigation:
  • 8D
  • 5-Why
  • Fishbone (cause and effect)
  • Fault tree analysis
  • DMAIC
• Document each investigation in a written failure analysis report stating the failure mode, the evidence, the root cause, and the recommended action.
• Recommend containment actions where a failure affects product already produced or already shipped.
• Verify the effectiveness of corrective actions using return data from the period following implementation.

Field Data Monitoring

• Monitor return rate, retailer defective return data, warranty claims, and consumer service contacts by SKU and by platform, and identify changes that warrant investigation.
• Review consumer ratings and review content for early indications of product issues.
• Report emerging issues to the Manager, Field Quality within the timeframe defined for the issue class.

Cross-Functional Support

• Provide failure analysis results to engineering, product integrity, supplier quality, and plant quality for use in design and process corrective action.
• Support Material Review Board activity for returned and nonconforming product.
• Support supplier corrective action requests with the physical evidence and analysis from returned units.

Competencies and Abilities

• Ability to disassemble and diagnose mechanical and electrical consumer products, including motors, heating elements, controls, wiring, and molded plastic components.
• Proficiency with test and measurement equipment, including multimeters, dimensional measurement tools, and thermal measurement.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, control plans, and PFMEAs.
• Ability to apply structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5-Why, fishbone, fault tree, DMAIC) without supervision.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools (Excel, Minitab, or similar).
• Ability to write a failure analysis report that a design engineer can act on.
• Ability to work independently at a site where no other quality engineering resource is located.

Certifications and Special Requirements

• Working knowledge of core quality tools: FMEA, CAPA.
• Familiarity with UL and ETL product safety requirements preferred.

Required/Desired Education and Experience

• 3 to 5 years of experience in a manufacturing or product quality role required.
• Direct experience in failure analysis, product teardown, or returned-product evaluation required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related technical field preferred.
• Experience with injection molding, mechanical and electrical assembly, or small motor products is an advantage.