Erik Smith Email & Phone Number

Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States

Performed witness/verification inspections and surveillance of Orion primary/secondary structures, wiring harness fabrication and testing, installation and testing of ordnance, and inspection and installation of thermal protection system components on the Orion Launch Vehicles. Performed closeout inspections on panels, pyros, and electrical connectors.Provided direct support for NASA and the various OEM contractors for the manufacturing, testing and validation of the Artemis 1 Solid rocket boosters, main core stage engine and Crew module system. Continued direct support after the launch of Artemis 1 for NASA and the various OEM contractors for the manufacturing, testing and validation of multiple space flight systems including government mandatory inspection points and surveillance/audits of the Launch abort system, Crew Module, Crew Module Adapter, and European Service Module for the Orion Vehicles for Artemis 2,3, and 4.

Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States

Traveled to multiple government contractor facilities to apply technical expertise and broad experience of established plans and methods for ensuing compliance with contract quality requirements.Maintained intimate knowledge of the agency's mission, objectives, procedures, and the relationship of quality assurance with contract administration, procurement, storage, and distribution offlight assemblies and support equipment.Analyzed data to identify unsatisfactory trends or weaknesses in the contractor quality or inspection system using various quality control tools (Pareto Charts, Check sheets, and flowcharts).

Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States

Performed a variety of Quality Assurance activities for the NASA Exploration Ground System (EGS) program, and the NASA Orion Program Office (OPO). Activities included GMIP (Government Mandatory Inspection Point) inspections of space flight hardware, surveillances/ in-person audits of Contractor production operations, and documentation audits of contractor’s production and quality assurance procedures related to the fabrication and manufacturing of space flight systems. Assured contractor compliance of hardware requirements are met in accordance with Management of Government Quality Assurance Functions for NASA Contracts and KSC Quality Assurance Procedural Requirements.Performs a variety of audits, oversight inspections, and safety evaluation and multiple NASA KSC facilities including: the Operations and Checkout Facility (O&C), Launch Abort Service Facility (LASF), Launch PAD 39B, the Rotation Processing and Surge Facility (RPSF), and the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).Accepted or rejected products as necessary during government mandatory inspection points per QMS/SMA documents. Identified problems and defective materials and equipment. Reported and documented hardware defects and ensured follow up until closure to provide a closed looped accounting system to guarantee proper corrective actions are completed.

Orlando, Florida, United States

As a quality assurance subject matter expert, I provided a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of the full range of principles, concepts, and methodology related to quality assurance functional programs, and with considerable skill in applying this knowledge to the planning and accomplishment of a variety of complex work assignments allowed the company I was contracted with to certify themselves as ISO9001 company.Designed, planned, and implemented a systematic and strategic approach for TQM (Total Quality Management) to provide adequate confidence that products will conform to established requirements throughout the product's life cycle. Ensured contracted companies had provisions for designing, developing, producing, maintaining, storing, and issuing their product. Led effort in defining critical elements of hardware and product quality characteristics that ensured adequate control over materials, sources, and manufacturing. Provided training the quality team of contracted companies were trained on identification, prevention, and correction of unsatisfactory conditions or features that influence the products form, fit, function, or safety. This included mentoring 15+ technicians and inspectors on continuous improvement methodologies (Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma) to guarantee that the contracted company would have employees that were able to provide value that would increase as their tenure with the company matured.

Orlando, Florida, United States

Utilized expert knowledge of quality assurance/control methods, principles, and practices, including statistical analysis and sampling techniques to ensure adequate manufacturing of the AF-8, AFM-8, MH860, and auxiliary manual hand crimpers.Maintained working relationship across multiple disciplines to develop plans and approaches calculated to insure effective control of product quality.Applied knowledge of safety practices associated with rework operations, qualification testing to ensure that unsafe practiced or equipment are identified and do not contribute to the degradation of quality and reliability of the products.Instrumental in development of hardware fixtures to ensure comprehensive and safe testing of qualification tools for new product line (Lacelock) and applied expert knowledge of specific product characteristics and attributes to redesign fixtures for existing products to assure tool testing reduced risk of safety incidents during functional testing.

Orlando, Florida, United States

Provided comprehensive knowledge of a broad product area (electronic and electrical equipment, components, aerospace hardware and systems) including utilization of product specifications and standards, production methods and processes required to assure product quality, special material processes and treatments, use of specialized inspection and test equipment, and preservation, packaging, and packing techniques. Skilled in applying this knowledge to identify root cause issues and provide resolution of complex quality problems.Led material review board meetings to deal with extremely broad and complex quality problems which were further complicated by such factors as the wide dispersion of organizations and activities involved, and the multiplicity of authorities, policies, and controls to coordinate the disposition of defective or nonconforming products.Utilized technical knowledge and extensive experience in the product area to investigate customer complaints and deficiency reports and providing identification of causes to appropriate activities to conduct studies of complex or unprecedented quality assurance nonconformances, the solution of which required the development of new techniques and procedures for the company.Performed quality planning assignments for production programs involving such tasks as: preparing inspection/audit plans and creating controlled inspection programs for optical coordinate measuring machines; preparing manufacturing and test procedures for special processes; conducting quality audits on materials; and verifying effectiveness of controls over gages and inspection equipment.

Orlando, Florida, United States

Performs various inspection and surveillance/audit functions concerned with safety and quality of operations involving receipt, storage, maintenance, handling, packaging, and shipment of military and commercial RF materials and products. Specific functions include receipt and statical inspections, storage audits, functional testing, and monitoring of maintenance, modification, or disposal.Executed quality assignments on own initiative in accordance with company policies and procedures to ensure productions schedules were met and exceeded. Reduced product inspection takt time from 1 month to 2 days utilizing work instructions developed in coordination with design and manufacturing engineering.

Los Angeles County, California, United States

Lead the planning, development, and implementation of a robust and comprehensive metrology and preventative maintenance system to satisfy aerospace and military program requirements and industry specifications for a quality management system.Procured real estate and team of 4 technicians with the aid of cross departmental organizations to control measuring and test equipment utilized throughout the enterprise and drafted site-specific metrological procedures and work instructions for calibration and preventative maintenance saving the company $100,000+ annually.Provided decisions concerning maintenance and serviceability are based on visual examination and the application of specified tests and measurements. Decisions regarding adequacy and safety of operations are based on requirements in applicable technical and supply manuals, engineering drawings, and product specifications.Analyzed and verified technical engineering documentation for deficiencies or deviations from established quality and industry procedures and specifications and recommended corrective actions.

Hawthorne, California, United States

Read and interpret technical drawings while following detailed work instructions. Performed work according to procedures and test instructions generated through company and industry specifications. Participation with testing and engineering to review technical documentation and developing plans and procedures for assuring quality and reliability of products.Supported the agency's space exploration missions by cleaning and inspecting flight parts for multiple crew dragon spacecraft utilizing passivation and detergent cleaning techniques per provided technical specifications. Maintained chemical composition of 5 nitric acid tanks while providing weekly samples to testing department for verification. Developed training program for the ELCSS (Environmental Control and Life Support System) cleaning department and onboarded 7 newly hired employees on spaceflight safety, cleanroom standard practices, conducting tests, troubleshooting equipment, and diagnosing malfunctions in systems utilized daily in the space cleaning department.

Inglewood, Ca

Monitored and inspected quality of materials and supplies required to support production activities while maintaining participation with production, engineering, and other activities in developing plans and procedures for assuring quality and reliability of products. Conducted internal audits of products and processes for conformance to material electrocoating specifications and to detect processing and technical manufacturing documentation deficiencies and recommending corrective action, including establishment of acceptable quality levels and statistical techniques.Identified a potential safety risk for the company and provided corrective action to prevent loss of property and life. Action was driven by improper storage methods, extended periods of storage, or inherent deterioration characteristics of the material which led to a high risk of ignition if continued.

Torrance, California, United States

First job at the age of 15 where I learned the basics of teamwork, resource management, and employee delegation. After a 1-month training period with a mentor that became a lifelong friend, and my open availability, I became the most utilized employee working at all 5 of the franchisee's stores in the local area. After a quarter of proving my commitment and work ethic I was promoted to head supervisor, responsible for managing daily store operations, as well as training and delegating new employees at all 5 stores for the remaining 1.5 years of my employment.

Associate Of Science - As, Mathematics

High School Diploma, Mathematics