QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER

About the Role

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Company's Quality Management System (QMS) while transforming the quality organization from a reactive inspection-based function into a proactive, system-driven organization focused on prevention, process capability, and continuous improvement. This role provides strategic leadership for all quality activities by establishing standardized processes, building a high-performing quality organization, and driving operational excellence through data-driven decision-making and disciplined problem solving.

Working in close partnership with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Product Development, and Compliance, the Quality Manager will improve manufacturing performance, reduce process variation, enhance supplier and product quality, increase customer satisfaction, and ensure compliance with applicable quality and regulatory standards. This leader will champion a culture where quality is embedded throughout the organization and owned by every department—not solely the Quality function.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Quality Department. Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance objectives. Mentor and develop quality personnel. Foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and customer focus.
• Own and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS). Maintain ISO 9001 certification and compliance. Develop and maintain documented procedures, work instructions, and quality standards.
• Lead Management Review meetings, presenting quality performance, key trends, risks, opportunities, and recommendations for continuous improvement to senior leadership.
• Participate in Engineering Change Order (ECO/ECN) reviews to ensure product and process changes are properly validated prior to implementation.
• Develop quality KPIs and executive dashboards. Drive data-based decision making throughout the organization.
• Lead corrective and preventive action (CAPA) activities. Identify systemic issues and implement sustainable corrective actions. Reduce Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ). Improve First Pass Yield (FPY). Reduce scrap and rework.
• Partner with Operations to improve manufacturing processes. Support Engineering during New Product Introduction.
• Lead quality planning activities for New Product Introduction (NPI), including inspection plans, control plans, PFMEA support, validation activities, first article inspections, and production readiness reviews.
• Develop supplier quality expectations. Develop and manage the Supplier Quality Program including supplier audits, supplier scorecards, corrective actions, PPAP/FAI requirements where applicable, and supplier performance improvement initiatives.
• Lead internal quality audits. Support customer quality requirements. Lead customer complaint investigations and ensure timely root cause analysis, corrective actions, and customer communications. Develop customer quality metrics and improvement plans.
• Drive process standardization across all manufacturing operations. Partner with Compliance to ensure manufacturing processes support ATF, ITAR, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Support investigations involving product quality, customer returns, and regulatory inquiries. Ensure quality documentation meets internal, customer, and regulatory record retention requirements.
• Oversee the Company's calibration program for all inspection, test, and measurement equipment.
• Utilize risk-based thinking throughout the QMS to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate quality risks.
• Develop long-term quality strategy aligned with business objectives. Evaluate risks and opportunities. Establish measurable quality objectives.
• Promote the use of SPC and statistical methods throughout manufacturing. Develop succession plans for the Quality organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive manufacturing quality leadership.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001.
• Experience building and improving Quality Management Systems.
• Strong leadership and organizational development skills.
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of SPC, CAPA, Root Cause Analysis, Process Capability, and Supplier Quality.
• Experience in precision manufacturing preferred.
• Firearms manufacturing experience is preferred but not required.

Working Conditions

Work is normally performed in a climate-controlled office environment and throughout a heated manufacturing and warehouse facility. Exposure to conditions of extreme heat/cold, poor ventilation, fumes and gases is very limited. Noise level is moderate and includes sounds of light manufacturing, shipping and receiving, and normal office equipment (computers, telephones, etc.). No known environmental hazards are encountered in normal performance of job duties.

Physical Demands

• Be able to lift objects up to 35 lbs.
• Ability to move objects as requested and necessary.
• Be able to lift, push and pull objects as necessary.
• May be required to stand and walk throughout the workday.
• May be required to operate small hand tools.
• Occasionally required to bend, stoop, kneel and crouch.