Nicholas Dietz
Valparaiso
Summary
Senior Product Quality Control Engineer specializing in metallurgical analysis and data-driven quality control. Proven track record in root cause analysis and process optimization, significantly enhancing product capabilities and reducing defects through strategic leadership in cross-functional initiatives and quality management systems.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Product Quality Control Engineer
NLMK Indiana
Portage
06.2023 - Current
- Engineering Lead for the Automatic Surface Inspection system; coordinate hardware and software upgrades, and program (C++) modifications for process improvement.
- Evaluate product capability of hot-rolled material using metallurgical and data analytic knowledge for trials, process parameters, and applications.
- Metallurgical Structure, Phase, and Tensile Property Data Analyst for Project/Process Development.
Senior Quality Engineer
Cleveland Cliffs Burns Harbor, Hot Mill
Burns Harbor
12.2019 - 06.2023
- Utilizes root cause analysis in the formation, distribution, and control of defects, processes, and the surrounding influences for Casting, Hot Rolling, Pickling, Cold Rolling, and Coating Steel.
- Evaluate metallurgical requirements for hot mill part transfers between various facilities. Diagnosed routing optimizations.
- Quality Lead in the Manufacturing Execution System (Python) development team for Slab/Coil Design and Process Improvement.
Project Engineer
ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor, Hot Mill
10.2011 - 11.2019
- Improved the rejection rate of systemic defects using root cause analysis and coordinating proactive maintenance of critical equipment.
- Developed automatic defect alarming and basic coil grading for real-time process and quality management using surface inspection data, reducing the reprocessing rate of affected material by 30%.
- Trained and developed new operations personnel in quality evaluation including but not limited to automatic surface inspection systems, ISO 9001, Six Sigma, FMEA and Control Plans.
- Quality Assurance Engineering Lead for the integration and dynamic improvement of the Hot Mill Coil Grading System.
Associate Engineer
ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor, Finishing
06.2010 - 10.2011
- Analyzed cooling rate thermal profiles of incoming pickle product and determined the optimal processing schedule with improved delivery throughput of hot charged material by 40%.
- Investigated root cause of centerline segregation defect and improved localized cooling process to eliminate defect formation at customer.
- Automated internal reporting tools to improve disposition timing of caster production product by 25%.
Education
M.S. - Analytics and Modeling
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN05-2023
B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA05-2010
Skills
- Quality management systems
- Data visualization
- Failure modes and effects analysis
- Root cause analysis
- Product inspections
- Material analysis
- Six Sigma principles
- Process engineering
- Mechanical property testing
- Metallurgy and characterization
- SQL, Python, C, MATLAB, and R programming
- Data analytics
- Management systems
- ISO standards
Certification
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Lead ISO Auditor
Hobbies and Interests
- Astronomy
- Game Theory
- Travel
- Baking
Timeline
Product Quality Control Engineer
NLMK Indiana
06.2023 - Current
Senior Quality Engineer
Cleveland Cliffs Burns Harbor, Hot Mill
12.2019 - 06.2023
Project Engineer
ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor, Hot Mill
10.2011 - 11.2019
Associate Engineer
ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor, Finishing
06.2010 - 10.2011
M.S. - Analytics and Modeling
Valparaiso University
B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering
Pennsylvania State University