Quality Compliance R&D Manager

About the role

A well-established ISO 9001 certified safety equipment manufacturer specializing in plastic injection molding has a great full-time opportunity in the Woodstock area for a Compliance and R&D Manager. The Compliance / R&D Manager is responsible for ensuring timely and effective implementation of all company’s policies, procedures, and activities involved in assuring the quality of products and research and development of new products. They maintain close working relationships with other department managers and supervisory personnel to meet and maintain product quality, identify, solve and prevent problems affecting product quality, maximize productivity, and comply with regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage personnel, workload, and priorities for QA Laboratory, receiving inspection, in process inspections, and Safety program; establish inspection plans; communicate outcomes with production and Engineering and Manufacturing Director and others.
• Establish and maintain trends and KPIs.
• Review and approve test records and other manufacturing related documents to verify compliance.
• Maintain documentation according to requirements.
• Conduct failure analysis investigations, root cause, corrective actions, write non-conformance reports, maintain trends and KPIs.
• Aid in investigating and correcting quality-related issues (including customer complaints) through collaboration with other departments and Quality Director.
• Maintain ISO records and revise procedures and work instructions as required.
• Maintain R&D project records and participate in R&D meetings and work sessions.
• Provide technical assistance and input for Production and R&D activities.
• Perform Quality Systems audits, Safety Audits, and participate in third party audits and inspections and corrective action responses.
• Implement new test equipment and maintain existing equipment.
• Maintain and manage calibration schedule and system.
• Write work instructions and standard operating procedures for QA, testing, and production.
• Participate in ANSI/ISEA committees, including standards writing committees.
• Willingness and ability to rapidly learn, master and conduct all aspects of industry specific performance testing and laboratory activities as well as the applicable standards and requirements of customers and regulatory agencies.
• Ensure all documents, records and files are processed in compliance and conformance to customer and product certification requirements.
• Mentor, train, set expectations, provide accountability, and perform evaluations for quality assurance technicians/inspectors.
• Make day-to-day decisions related to areas of responsibility.
• Analyze processes in a manufacturing environment and formulate continuous improvement initiatives and actions capable of assuring quality of output.
• Implement policies, operating procedures, quality systems and programs which ensure proper testing, evaluation, inspection, in order to meet product quality standards.
• Mathematical skills – Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume etc. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Maintain organization and develop methods for managing 6S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain, & Safety) initiatives along with safety program.
• Mechanical ability and aptitude – Ability to use machinery and equipment properly and maintain equipment in best working order. Ability to understand mechanical concepts. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees. Ability to negotiate challenges involving different groups within the organization.

Qualifications, Education And/or Experience

• At minimum, High school diploma; Bachelor Degree of Science preferred.
• 5 or more years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Demands

• Regular standing, walking and continuous motion.
• Regular use of hands to handle or feel; reaching with hands and arms.
• Able to move, lift up to 50 pounds.
• Use of close up vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Frequent exposure to moving mechanical parts.
• Noise levels in the work environment is usually moderate.