Manufacturing & Quality Engineer

About the role

AGS Company Automotive Solutions is a trusted leader in the automotive aftermarket, proudly serving customers for more than 95 years. With a reputation for quality, reliability, and innovation, AGS provides a wide range of products including brake, fuel, transmission, and specialty lines that keep vehicles on the road and performing at their best. Headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan, AGS is committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement across manufacturing, distribution, and customer service. The Manufacturing & Quality Engineer supports and leads manufacturing and quality improvement activities across AGS' Hoyt and Distribution Center sites. This is a hands-on role focused on improving how work is performed, documented, measured, and sustained while supporting AGS' ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. The position works closely with Production, Product Development, Maintenance, Sourcing, and other teams to launch new processes, improve existing operations, develop standardized work, conduct time and process studies, solve production and quality problems, and keep manufacturing and quality documentation current.

The ideal candidate is comfortable taking ownership of projects while also working collaboratively with employees at all levels of the organization. This role directly manages a Quality Assurance Technician, maintains a regular presence on the production floor, and communicates directly with commercial customers and end-users to answer technical questions and help resolve product or application concerns.

At AGS, our values of Give, Respect, Act, Innovate, and Lead shape how we work together and deliver excellence in the automotive industry.

• Give: "Share Generously" - We commit to generosity in every action, sharing our time, knowledge, and resources to foster a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Respect: "Value Every Voice" - We uphold a culture of respect, where every voice is valued and diversity is celebrated, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Act: "Act with Integrity" - We take decisive action, guided by integrity and responsibility, to address challenges proactively and achieve our goals effectively.
• Innovate: "Embrace Creativity" - We embrace creativity and innovation, constantly seeking novel solutions and approaches to drive progress and stay ahead of the curve.
• Lead: "Inspire by Example" - We lead by example, inspire others through our dedication and passion, and strive to empower each team member to reach their full potential.

Responsibilities

Manufacturing Quality Systems & Process Control

• Maintain and continuously improve AGS' ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, including internal audits, external audit support, and timely closure of findings.
• Work with Production and Product Development to translate product and customer requirements into practical manufacturing processes, standardized work, inspection requirements, and appropriate quality controls.
• Maintain required quality and manufacturing documentation, including gauge and calibration controls, and ensure process changes are reviewed, documented, and communicated.
• Monitor and report key quality and manufacturing indicators such as scrap, rework, inspection results, warranty claims, customer returns, and recurring non-conformances.

Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Action

• Lead and participate in investigations of production issues, non-conformances, customer complaints, warranty claims, and field returns using practical, structured problem-solving methods.
• Own corrective actions from issue identification through implementation and closure, working with the appropriate teams to contain problems and develop practical, lasting solutions.
• Verify corrective actions are effective and ensure resulting changes are incorporated into applicable processes, work instructions, inspection requirements, training, and other documentation.

Manufacturing Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Lead assigned manufacturing and quality improvement projects from identification through implementation and follow-up, coordinating the right team members and driving action items to completion.
• Maintain a regular presence on the production floor, working with operators and supervisors to improve process flow, workstation layout, tooling, fixtures, material handling, inspection methods, and day-to-day manufacturing issues.
• Conduct time studies and process observations and use production data such as cycle time, scrap, rework, downtime, and output to identify bottlenecks and opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost.
• Work with Production employees and supervisors to develop, test, document, and maintain standardized work instructions that reflect practical and repeatable methods.
• Lead or participate in Lean, 6S, waste-reduction, and continuous-improvement activities that produce measurable and sustainable operating improvements.
• Work with Production, Maintenance, and Product Development to develop or improve practical manufacturing aids, fixtures, inspection methods, and error-proofing solutions.

Supplier & Incoming Quality

• Oversee incoming inspection for raw materials and purchased components and use quality data to identify supplier concerns.
• Partner with Purchasing and Supply Chain on supplier quality issues, corrective actions, scorecards, and chronic performance concerns.
• Support supplier qualification and first-article review for new parts and materials, working with Purchasing and Product Development to identify quality or manufacturing concerns before approval.

Customer Quality & Complaint Resolution

• Own and coordinate customer complaints, warranty claims, field issues, and technical product questions, serving as a primary point of quality and technical support accountability.
• Communicate directly with commercial customers and end-users by phone and email to understand product, installation, application, and quality concerns; take ownership of technical questions by gathering the necessary information, working with internal resources as needed, and providing the customer with a clear answer or solution.
• Document customer issues, provide timely follow-up, and use recurring feedback to improve products, processes, instructions, and training.

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly manage and develop the Quality Assurance Technician, setting clear expectations, providing hands-on coaching, and supporting growth in inspection, problem solving, and documentation.
• Build quality awareness and ownership across Manufacturing and Distribution through training, cross-training, and day-to-day collaboration.
• Support hiring and onboarding for quality-related roles as needed.

New Process & Product Launch Support

• Work with Product Development, Production, Maintenance, and other teams to plan how new products, equipment, and processes will transition into day-to-day production.
• Help establish process flow, workstation and tooling needs, standardized work, inspection requirements, training, and other documentation needed for launch.
• Coordinate and participate in equipment trials, sample builds, first production runs, and process launches; document issues, assign follow-up, and help drive open items to completion.
• Ensure product and process changes are communicated and that applicable documentation, tooling, inspection methods, training, inventory, and maintenance needs are addressed during implementation.

Culture & Collaboration

• Model AGS values and promote open communication, continuous learning, and shared responsibility for quality and improvement.
• Share knowledge, support the development of others, and contribute to a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.
• Participate in team building, training, and company-wide initiatives that strengthen engagement and performance.

What Success Looks Like

• Manufacturing processes and standardized work are clearly documented, current, understood, and consistently followed.
• Time studies, production data, and process observations result in measurable improvements to quality, workflow, productivity, and cost.
• New products, equipment, and processes launch in an organized manner with appropriate documentation, quality checks, training, and follow-up.
• Production and customer issues are resolved with practical root causes and lasting corrective actions that reduce recurrence.
• Commercial customers and end-users receive clear, timely, and helpful technical support.
• Scrap, rework, warranty, and customer-return trends show measurable improvement.
• The Quality Assurance Technician and production teams grow in quality awareness, problem-solving ability, and ownership.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or associate degree in engineering, engineering technology, industrial technology, quality, or a related technical field preferred; relevant manufacturing experience, technical training, or demonstrated aptitude may be considered in place of a degree.
• Manufacturing, quality, engineering, technical, or production experience preferred. This role may be a good fit for an early-career engineer, an experienced manufacturing or quality technician, or someone with strong manufacturing knowledge who is ready to grow into greater engineering responsibility.
• Practical understanding of manufacturing processes, inspection, documentation, and problem solving, with the willingness and ability to learn additional manufacturing and quality tools.
• Experience with or interest in time studies, standardized work, Lean/6S, continuous improvement, equipment or tooling projects, and new-product or new-process launches preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret basic engineering drawings, specifications, and dimensional requirements, or demonstrated ability and willingness to develop these skills.
• Experience working within an ISO 9001:2015 or similar Quality Management System preferred; willingness to learn and take an active role in maintaining AGS' quality system required.
• Strong analytical and practical problem-solving skills, with experience using or willingness to learn structured methods such as 5-Why and fishbone analysis.
• Strong communication and project-ownership skills, including the ability to work effectively with internal teams, commercial customers, and end-users; answer technical questions by phone or email; and know when to involve additional resources.
• Comfortable dividing time between office-based analysis and hands-on work in the production environment; experience with ERP, document-control, or manufacturing data systems is a plus (AGS uses MAGI).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move throughout office and production environments, including occasional standing, walking, bending, and lifting.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs as needed.
• Comfortable working in manufacturing environment with varying temperatures and noise levels.
• Visual and mental attention required for quality data review, documentation, inspection work, and technical troubleshooting.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage
• Life insurance
• AFLAC supplemental insurance options
• Fitness membership benefits