Team Leader – Quality Assurance

1. Job Definition

Lead the quality assurance and inspection function for IAPL's gas trains, piping assemblies, regulating skids and associated components.

The role requires an experienced, technically credible professional who can take ownership of quality decisions, guide inspectors, challenge manufacturing deviations and work constructively with Production, Engineering, suppliers and customers.

This is a middle-management position with the opportunity to grow into responsibility for the entire quality function at IAPL.

2. Role Summary

Ensure that products meet approved drawings, specifications, applicable standards and customer requirements throughout manufacturing and before dispatch.

Establish practical quality controls, make timely and defensible acceptance decisions, and prevent recurring defects. Exercise firmness where requirements are mandatory and sound engineering judgment where an approved alternative or concession is permissible.

3. Key Responsibilities

A. Quality planning and process control

• Prepare and maintain inspection and test plans, quality checkpoints, acceptance criteria and inspection records.
• Identify critical characteristics and manufacturing stages that require inspection or hold points.
• Introduce preventive controls so that quality is built into the manufacturing process.
• Review drawings and customer specifications early enough to identify inspection, testing and documentation requirements before production begins.

B. Piping, fabrication and skid inspection

• Oversee inspection of piping spools, fabricated assemblies, skid structures, bought-out components and completed gas trains.
• Verify material identification and traceability, dimensions, fit-up, welding, flange alignment, component orientation, assembly workmanship and finish against approved requirements.
• Oversee pressure and leak testing, including test readiness, instrument calibration, procedure compliance and records.
• Coordinate welding documentation, welder qualifications and non-destructive testing wherever required.
• Apply a working knowledge of machining to assess dimensions, tolerances, threads, sealing surfaces and component suitability.

C. Internal, final and third-party inspection

• Lead incoming, in-process and final inspection activities.
• Ensure outgoing equipment is inspected, tested, documented and formally released before dispatch.
• Plan and coordinate customer inspections and third-party inspections.
• Ensure inspection readiness, close observations and maintain complete inspection dossiers.
• Represent IAPL confidently during technical discussions with customers and inspection agencies.

D. Non-conformity and corrective action

• Identify, record and contain non-conforming material or work.
• Determine the required disposition with the relevant technical authorities: rework, repair, rejection or an approved concession.
• Lead root cause analysis and verify that corrective actions prevent recurrence.
• Address customer complaints and quality failures through evidence, timely action and follow-through.
• Maintain visibility of repeated defects, rework, inspection failures and overdue corrective actions.

E. Team leadership and cross-functional working

• Allocate inspection work, guide inspectors and strengthen their technical judgment.
• Support the quality team when it faces pressure to accept non-conforming work.
• Resolve disagreements through drawings, specifications, measurements and technical evidence.
• Work with Production and Engineering to find compliant, practical solutions that support delivery commitments.
• Improve inspection methods, fixtures, checklists and documentation to make quality control more effective.

4. Decision-Making Authority

Within the company's approved authority framework, the role shall:

• Place non-conforming material, work or finished equipment on quality hold.
• Withhold inspection clearance or dispatch release until required conditions are met.
• Require rework, reinspection or additional verification against defined requirements.
• Escalate unresolved technical disagreements directly to the GM–Operations and, when necessary, the Director.

Acceptance under concession must follow a documented approval process involving Engineering and the customer wherever required. Safety requirements and mandatory compliance requirements cannot be waived to meet delivery targets.

5. Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma or Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Typically 10–15 years of relevant experience, including responsibility for inspection decisions and coordination of a quality team.
• Strong preference for experience in pressure vessels, process equipment, piping fabrication, gas or fluid handling skids, or comparable engineered equipment.
• Strong practical knowledge of piping terminology, pipe schedules, fittings, flanges, pressure ratings, joining methods and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to read fabrication drawings, piping isometrics, P&IDs, specifications and inspection requirements.
• Practical understanding of welding, fabrication, pressure testing, leak testing and material traceability.
• Moderate working knowledge of machining processes and dimensional inspection.
• Experience handling internal inspection, final inspection, customer inspection and third-party inspection.
• Working familiarity with relevant codes, quality documentation and ISO 9001 systems. Welding or NDT qualifications will be an advantage.

6. Success Measures

Performance will be assessed through:

• Reduction in repeat defects, rework and customer complaints.
• Reliable outgoing quality and complete release documentation.
• Timely inspection and closure of third-party observations.
• Effective corrective actions and fewer overdue quality issues.
• Improved competence and independence of the inspection team.
• Consistent, technically justified quality decisions.

7. Career Growth

Team Leader – Quality Assurance → Assistant Manager / Manager – Quality → Head of Quality, based on demonstrated capability and organisational requirements.

8. What We Offer

A meaningful middle-management role in an established manufacturer of gas safety and regulation equipment, with the opportunity to strengthen quality systems, develop a team and progressively lead the company's quality function.