Quality Assurance and Production Specialist

at  Laxtons Specialist Yarns

Laxtons Specialist Yarns, in Baildon, is looking to recruit an experienced Quality Assurance and Production Specialist to join an experienced Team in Bradford.
At Laxtons, we take pride in being an employee-owned business. Where teamwork, collaboration, and shared success are at the heart of everything we do. Our Collective commitment drives us to deliver innovative textile solutions with sustainability and craftmanship as our guiding principles.
The key responsibilities typically involve overseeing the quality assurance processes, managing production schedules, and ensuring that all products meet defined quality standards. This role requires a blend of technical knowledge, managerial skills, and experience in production planning.
Experience in this role is essential, but certain elements of training and time to get up to speed with the Laxtons production methods will be factored in. The business’s approach is to provide a high level of quality assurance of products leaving the manufacturing facility.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven experience in yarn production, quality assurance, and/or production planning in a textile manufacturing environment.
• In-depth knowledge of yarn production processes, quality standards, and textile industry regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and effectively communicate across departments.
• Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC) and other quality assurance tools is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement.

· Quality Inspection: Monitor and inspect yarns at various stages of production, including raw materials, in-process, and finished goods, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
· Testing & Analysis: Perform physical, and performance tests on yarns (e.g., Count, levelness, strength, elongation, twist, and uniformity, follow BS-984 Standard) to evaluate quality.
· Research & Development: Innovate and develop new wool yarn formulations that meet market demands for durability, texture, and sustainability.
· Process Monitoring: Collaborate with production teams to identify and resolve quality issues throughout the yarn manufacturing process, ensuring smooth production flow.
· Documentation & Reporting: Maintain accurate records of quality inspections, test results, and corrective actions. Prepare detailed reports to communicate findings and actions to management.
· Compliance: Ensure yarn production adheres to industry standards, safety regulations, and environmental guidelines, maintaining legal and regulatory compliance.
· Yarn Dyeing: Oversee the dye house section of the business, building strong internal relationships to achieve optimal results. Stay ahead of dye trends, techniques, and innovations, including chemical and natural dyestuff, to enhance dyeing processes. Ensure compliance with GOTS standards.
· Continuous Improvement: Contribute to ongoing improvement initiatives, enhancing quality control procedures and optimizing yarn manufacturing processes for greater efficiency and product consistency.
· Supplier & Material Management: Liaise with suppliers to ensure the raw materials meet required quality standards prior to being used in production, maintaining a consistent supply of high-quality materials.
· Continuous Improvement: Lead initiatives to improve product quality, production efficiency, and overall mill performance. Conduct root cause analysis on production or quality issues and implement corrective and preventive measures. Stay updated on industry trends, new technologies, and best practices in textile manufacturing and quality assurance.
· Certification Management: Lead and manage the process of obtaining and maintaining GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), RWS (Responsible Wool Standard), RMS (Responsible Mohair Standard), RAS Responsible Alpaca Standard), ECOTEX, certifications for the company’s products. Ensure all required documentation, evidence, and reporting are in place to support certification compliance. Serve as the main point of contact for certification bodies and third-party auditors.