Quality Assurance Manager

Production & Floor Quality Leadership

• Directly overseeing operators, inspectors, and inspector leads to ensure compliance with inspection plans and production requirements.
• Enforce adherence to all work instructions, inspection frequencies, and quality procedures established by the Director of Quality Assurance.
• Exercise stop-work authority when nonconforming product or process breakdown is identified.
• Ensure machines are not producing nonconforming products due to setup, tooling, wear, or operator error.
• Provide real-time direction and decision-making to resolve floor-level quality issues.

Inspection Plans & FAI Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain inspection plans for all active production parts.
• Ensure inspection plans reflect current customer drawings, specifications, and QMS requirements.
• Oversee completion, review, and approval of First Article Inspections (FAIs) prior to production release.
• Cook up FAIs with Engineering, Production, and the Director of Quality Assurance as required.
• Ensure revisions to drawings or customer requirements are reflected immediately in inspection documentation.

Inspection Data & Compliance Oversight

• Own and manage all in-process, final, and FAI inspection data generated on the floor.
• Ensure inspection records are accurate, complete, and properly stored.
• Maintain data trends for recurring defects, process drift, or nonconformance patterns.
• Initiate corrective actions based on data analysis before issues escalate to customer impact.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100 (if applicable), customer-specific requirements, and internal QMS policies.

Accountability & Corrective Action

• Lead investigations into internal defects, rework, and quality escapes.
• Implement and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Cook up retraining of operators and inspectors when performance gaps are identified.
• Escalate systemic or high-risk issues to the Director of Quality Assurance with documented data and recommendations.

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs other duties as directed.
• Supports audit preparation and continuous improvement initiatives as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCY STATEMENTS

• Leadership – Ability to direct, manage, and hold operators and inspectors accountable.
• Decision-Making – Capable of making firm production and quality decisions under pressure.
• Analytical Thinking – Strong ability to interpret inspection data and identify trends.
• Process Discipline – Ensures procedures are consistently followed without exception.
• Communication – Clear, direct communication with hourly and salaried personnel.
• Conflict Resolution – Ability to address noncompliance or performance issues professionally and effectively.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Required education: Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Required experience: Minimum 5 years in manufacturing quality leadership, preferably in metal stamping or high-volume production environments.
• Required proficiencies: Strong understanding of Microsoft Excel, inspection methods, GD&T, FAIs, inspection planning, corrective action processes, and quality data systems.
• Required attributes: Assertive leadership style, high accountability standards, strong organizational skills, and ability to enforce compliance consistently.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position involves working in a manufacturing environment that is adjacent to the shop work environment.
• The employee must be aware of potential hazards, including, but not limited to, working in close proximity to moving mechanical parts, operating vehicles, exposure to electrical current, high temperatures, and chemicals.
• It is critical that the Quality Manager maintain situational awareness while actively engaging on the production floor to monitor operations and enforce quality standards.