Quality Manager

Description

Position: Quality Manager reporting to the Plant Manager. This role leads Continuous Improvement initiatives within Safety and Quality at the plant, providing leadership, planning, technical direction, communication, and coaching to ensure safe production of high‑quality products that meet customer needs in the most cost‑effective manner. The manager acts as the leader and driver of all quality initiatives, partnering with manufacturing, sales, design teams, vendors, and customers to meet internal and external quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Direct the Quality Management System at the plant.
• Train and educate the organization and implement continuous improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma, 5S, Lean, OE, and others.
• Drive Continuous Improvement to quantitatively and qualitatively improve costs, quality, and service.
• Track vendor performance, resolve and disposition customer complaints, investigate critical quality defects on in‑process and finished products, and generate and analyze quality data and reports.
• Ensure all customer feedback is promptly addressed, using root‑cause analysis and corrective action.
• Support safety as a top priority in training, job design, and regulatory compliance.
• Establish and manage systems for “right first time” performance and incorporate this philosophy into continuous improvement teams.
• Focus on plant‑wide issues and inter‑plant initiatives, developing synergies and business opportunities to optimize other manufacturing plants.

Skills and Attributes

• Leadership and management with a systemic problem‑solving approach.
• Ability to inspire team spirit, handle multiple complex priorities, and balance business impact.
• Strong business, technical, processing, packaging, and logistics knowledge.
• Coaching, motivating, and mentoring abilities; sets expectations, tracks results, and fosters accountability.
• Proficient in using individual and team development tools; encourages learning from mistakes.
• Excellent written, oral, and communication skills; active listening and ability to translate operational issues into corrective actions.
• Creative, change‑oriented with continuous‑improvement process skills.
• High energy, assertive, self‑starter attitude.

Education and Experience

• College degree in manufacturing, engineering, logistics, or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in a variety of manufacturing areas (production, logistics).
• Experience in quality system management or manufacturing/corrugated leadership preferred.
• Competent with MS Office and statistical software.
• Previous ISO certification desired.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification desired.

Requirements

• Computer literacy; proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, PowerPoint).
• High school graduate or equivalent with related college degree, technical courses, or associate degree.
• Minimum three years of related experience; knowledge of LEAN manufacturing, ISO, Six Sigma preferred.
• Mathematical skills: ability to read tape measures, calculate percentages, measurements, volume, rate, and apply high‑school math concepts.
• Reasoning ability: solve practical problems, interpret written, oral, diagram, or schedule instructions.

Physical Demands

The employee is regularly required to walk, talk, and hear; frequently required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms; occasionally required to sit. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

While performing duties, the employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and fumes or airborne particles. The noise level is usually loud.