Quality Manager

Position Title: Quality Manager Reports To: Plant Manager Position Summary The Quality Manager is responsible for the effectiveness of the Quality Management System (QMS) and overall product quality performance. This role focuses on ensuring compliance with AS9100 requirements, driving corrective actions and maintaining consistent quality standards across all operations. The primary focus of this role is ownership of the QMS, proactive quality leadership and ensuring quality standards are effectively executed in both production and administrative processes. Project Prioritization & Scope · Ensure the Quality Management System is maintained, compliant and effectively implemented across the organization. · Prioritize and drive corrective actions related to customer complaints, internal defects and supplier issues. · Ensure timely completion of PPAPs, first article inspections and other customer-required quality deliverables. · Balance time between production floor engagement and administrative quality responsibilities based on business needs. · Proactively identify quality risks in production and implement containment and corrective actions. · Prioritize improvement activities based on quality performance metrics, including customer returns, scrap and supplier performance. · Coordinate with Production, Engineering and other departments to address quality-related risks and issues. · Ensure nonconforming material is properly controlled, documented and dispositioned in a timely manner. Key Responsibilities · Own and maintain the AS9100 Quality Management System, ensuring compliance and effectiveness. · Lead internal audits and coordinate external audits, including customer and registrar audits. · Monitor quality performance and address issues impacting product quality in real time. · Communicate quality performance, risks and significant issues to leadership in a timely manner. · Perform hands-on inspection of parts as needed to verify quality standards and reinforce expectations. · Engage with production employees through brief training and coaching conversations to improve quality awareness and execution. · Lead and drive corrective actions (8D, CARs, SCARs) across departments, ensuring timely completion and effectiveness. · Serve as the primary point of contact for customer quality issues and responses. · Oversee supplier performance, including quality, corrective actions and on-time delivery. · Own, monitor and drive improvement of key quality performance metrics including customer returns, internal scrap and supplier performance. · Support or perform technical validation activities such as dimensional inspection and laser scanning as required. · Ensure inspection processes (incoming, in-process, final) are effective and consistently executed. Implementation & Sustainment · Ensure quality processes and standards are consistently followed and sustained across all departments. · Monitor effectiveness of corrective actions and escalate when issues are not resolved. · Verify that process changes, corrective actions and improvements are properly implemented and maintained. · Ensure documentation and records within the QMS remain current, accurate and controlled. Quality System & Process Execution Focus · Oversee adherence to quality standards across all manufacturing processes. · Monitor process compliance and identify deviations from established quality requirements. · Ensure nonconforming material is clearly identified, segregated and controlled. · Prevent shipment of nonconforming product through effective inspection and process controls. Training & Cross-Functional Collaboration · Provide training, coaching and guidance to employees regarding quality standards and expectations. · Conduct brief, on-the-floor interactions to reinforce quality awareness and correct behaviors. · Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Maintenance and other departments to resolve quality issues. · Work with Purchasing and suppliers to address supplier-related quality concerns. · Drive accountability for quality performance across all departments. · Conduct regular team communication meetings and employee development discussions to support accountability, alignment and performance.