Quality Manager

Quality Manager

Department: Quality Assurance
Reports To: Plant Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading and maintaining the company’s quality management system (QMS) in accordance with ISO 9001 requirements and customer expectations. This position oversees quality assurance and quality control activities throughout the manufacturing process, drives continuous improvement, and ensures products and processes consistently meet established specifications, regulatory requirements, and customer requirements.

The Quality Manager will work closely with Production,  Purchasing, and Operations to identify and resolve quality issues, reduce variation and waste, and promote a culture of quality throughout the organization.

Quality Manager Key Responsibilities:

Quality Management System

• Maintain, implement, and continuously improve the company’s ISO 9001-based Quality Management System.
• Ensure quality procedures, work instructions, forms, and records are current and effectively implemented.
• Coordinate internal and external ISO 9001 audits and support successful completion of certification and surveillance audits.
• Monitor QMS performance and report quality objectives, metrics, and trends to management.
• Ensure appropriate control of documented information and quality records.

Quality Control & Manufacturing

• Establish and maintain inspection and testing requirements for incoming materials, in-process production, and finished products.
• Ensure measuring and test equipment is properly calibrated and controlled, as well as inspection program accuracy.
• Review nonconforming material and ensure appropriate identification, containment, disposition, and documentation.
• Analyze defects, scrap, rework, customer complaints, and other quality trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Work with production personnel to establish effective corrective actions and prevent recurrence.

Corrective & Preventative Action

• Lead root-cause analysis using appropriate problem-solving methods such as 5 Whys, Fishbone/Ishikawa, 8D, and Pareto analysis.
• Manage corrective action and preventive improvement activities through completion.
• Verify the effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Identify systemic issues and implement improvements to prevent recurring problems.

Customer & Supplier Quality

• Respond to customer quality concerns and coordinate timely investigations and corrective actions.
• Support customer audits, quality reviews, and requests for quality documentation.
• Establish and monitor supplier quality requirements.
• Work with Purchasing and suppliers to resolve incoming material and supplier-related quality issues.
• Maintain appropriate supplier performance metrics.
• Perform regular supplier audits.

Continuous Improvement

• We expect our Quality Manager to promote a company-wide culture focused on quality, prevention, and continuous improvement.
• Use data and quality metrics to identify opportunities to improve processes and reduce defects.
• Participate in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, process improvement, and waste-reduction initiatives as appropriate.
• Support development and implementation of process controls and standardized work.

Leadership & Training

• Our Quality Manager will lead, coach, and develop the Quality Technician.
• Establish clear expectations for inspection, documentation, and quality control activities.
• Provide quality and ISO 9001 training to employees as needed.
• Work collaboratively with management to improve quality awareness and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent manufacturing experience may be considered.
• 3–5+ years of experience in manufacturing quality; demonstrated experience in a quality leadership role is preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
• Experience conducting or supporting internal audits.
• Experience with corrective action, root-cause analysis, nonconformance management, and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, inspection methods, and quality control principles.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and quality requirements.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality management/document-control systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• ISO 9001 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification.
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or similar ASQ certification.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma training/certification.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and quality management software.
• Experience working directly with customers and suppliers on quality issues.

Key Performance Indicators

The Quality Manager will be responsible for monitoring and improving key quality metrics, which may include:

• Customer complaints and returns
• Customer PPM / defect rates
• Internal scrap and rework
• Supplier quality performance
• Corrective action closure and effectiveness
• Internal and external audit findings
• On-time completion of inspections and quality records
• Cost of poor quality
• Overall QMS performance

Physical & Work Environment

This position operates in both an office and manufacturing environment. Regular interaction with production employees (12-15 machine operators), machinery and processes (Vertical Saws, Splitting, Laminating, Rolling, Slitting, Die-Cutting, Die-less Cutting), inspection equipment (Micro-Vu), materials (non-metallics such as foam, cork, rubber, adhesive tapes, aramid fiber, light gauge plastics), and office personnel is expected.

Success in This Role

Success in this position means maintaining an effective ISO 9001 quality system while helping the organization prevent defects, satisfy customers, reduce quality costs, improve manufacturing processes, and build a strong culture of continuous improvement.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees in accordance with applicable laws.

Benefits:   Rhopac offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, PTO, paid holidays and profit sharing.