Company Overview

Steel Forgings, Inc. (SFI) is an established Shreveport, Louisiana manufacturer of carbon steel buttweld pipe fittings, serving the energy industry for 80 years. Our tees, elbows, reducers, caps, and saddles are made in the USA and used in pipeline and energy infrastructure across the country.

We are a stable, growing, family-owned company that is actively investing in new equipment, our facility, and our people.

Position Summary

The Quality Control Technician helps ensure that SFI’s products meet customer requirements, internal quality standards, and applicable industry specifications before shipment.

This is a hands-on position that works both on the manufacturing floor and in our quality laboratory. Responsibilities include performing visual and dimensional inspections, reading drawings and specifications, preparing metal test specimens, conducting mechanical and chemical testing, documenting results, maintaining measurement equipment, and responding to quality concerns during production.

The right candidate is detail-oriented, dependable, comfortable working in a heavy industrial environment, and able to make careful quality decisions without losing sight of production schedules.

Inspection and Quality Responsibilities

Final product inspection: Perform visual, cosmetic, and dimensional inspections of finished buttweld fittings to verify compliance with engineering tolerances, customer drawings, purchase-order requirements, and applicable specifications.
Dimensional measurement: Use tape measures, scales, calipers, micrometers, gauges, and other precision measuring instruments to verify product dimensions.
Drawing interpretation: Read and cross-reference customer drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements, and applicable industry specifications against completed products.
Wall-thickness verification: Use ultrasonic thickness gauges to verify nominal and minimum wall thicknesses of manufactured fittings.
Quality decision-making: Identify potential nonconformances, react promptly to production anomalies, and communicate quality concerns before nonconforming products move to the next operation or shipment.
Production support: Work directly with production employees and supervisors to resolve quality questions while maintaining appropriate quality standards.
Test-piece tracking: Track, log, and expedite test pieces through preparation and laboratory testing so results are completed within required production timelines.
Quality documentation: Accurately complete inspection reports, test records, traceability documentation, and other quality forms using Microsoft Office, Google Sheets, and internal systems.

Laboratory and Testing Responsibilities

Test-specimen preparation: Safely operate equipment such as bandsaws, lathes, and milling machines to cut, shape, and prepare standardized metal test specimens according to established procedures.
Tensile testing: Perform tensile tests to verify yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation.
Charpy impact testing: Perform Charpy V-Notch impact testing to evaluate material toughness and energy absorption at specified temperatures.
Hardness testing: Conduct hardness testing across fitting bodies, weld areas, and heat-affected zones when required.
Chemical analysis: Operate spectrometer equipment to analyze material chemistry and verify compliance with applicable material requirements.
Test accuracy: Follow established testing procedures, correctly identify specimens, collect accurate results, and promptly report questionable or out-of-specification findings.

Metrology and Calibration

Perform scheduled calibrations and accuracy verifications for calipers, micrometers, gauges, and other precision measuring equipment.
Maintain calibration records, master equipment logs, and measurement-equipment traceability.
Identify damaged, expired, or inaccurate measurement equipment and remove it from service when appropriate.
Help ensure that inspection and testing equipment is properly maintained and available when needed.

Cross-Functional Responsibilities

Work professionally with Quality, Production, Engineering, Safety, Maintenance, and management personnel.
Clearly communicate inspection findings and quality concerns to both shop-floor employees and management.
Participate in investigations of nonconforming products and help determine appropriate next steps.
Support continuous improvement of inspection methods, documentation, testing workflows, and plant quality processes.
Maintain an organized, safe, and clean work area.

Required Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to accurately use basic and precision measuring tools, including tape measures, scales, calipers, and micrometers.
Basic computer proficiency, including the ability to enter data and work with Microsoft Office applications and spreadsheets.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation.
Ability to read and follow written procedures, drawings, specifications, and work instructions.
Ability to organize multiple inspections and test pieces while meeting production deadlines.
Clear verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with production employees, supervisors, and management.
Regular, predictable, and reliable attendance.
Willingness to work overtime when required by production needs.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience in quality control, dimensional inspection, laboratory testing, or manufacturing inspection.
Experience in steel, pipe fittings, fabrication, machining, forging, heat treatment, or another heavy industrial environment.
Experience reading engineering drawings and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
Experience performing tensile, Charpy impact, hardness, or spectrometer testing.
Experience using ultrasonic thickness gauges.
Experience with calibration systems and measurement-equipment records.
Familiarity with ASTM, ASME B16.9, MSS, or similar industrial standards.
Experience using ERP or MRP software, particularly Shoptech.
Experience safely operating bandsaws, lathes, milling machines, or similar machine-shop equipment.
Previous forklift experience.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout a manufacturing facility.
Ability to bend, stoop, turn, twist, push, pull, reach, climb, and perform repetitive tasks.
Ability to safely lift, carry, and maneuver objects weighing up to 50 pounds independently.
Willingness and ability to wear all required personal protective equipment, including steel-toed boots, safety glasses, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, and respiratory protection when required.
Ability to work in a non-climate-controlled industrial facility with seasonal heat and humidity, loud noise, vibration, airborne dust, and active manufacturing equipment.
Larger products and test materials may be moved with forklifts, cranes, or other approved material-handling equipment.

These requirements reflect the physical and environmental expectations contained in the existing position description.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive hourly wage commensurate with experience.
Overtime eligibility.
Performance-based annual bonus.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Company-paid life insurance.
401(k).
Paid Time Off.
Training and development opportunities.
Stable, long-term employment with a growing American manufacturer.

Equal Opportunity

Steel Forgings, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Pay: $22.00 - $26.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 – 50.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) matching
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Paid time off
Parental leave
Referral program
Relocation assistance
Retirement plan
Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Job description