Quality Manager

Position: Quality Manager

Reports to: Plant Manager

Responsibilities

• Directs the Quality Management System at the plant.
• Trains and educates the organization and implements continuous improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma, 5S, Lean, OE and others.
• Drives Continuous Improvement to quantitatively and qualitatively improve costs, quality and service.
• Drives plant accountabilities in the areas of tracking vendor performance, resolution and disposition of customer complaints, investigating critical quality defects on in‑process and finished products, and generation and analysis of quality data and reports.
• Ensures all customer feedback is promptly dealt with and any complaints are acted upon by the plant using root‑cause analysis and implementing corrective action.
• Supports safety as a top priority in training, job design and regulatory compliance.
• Ensures product quality by establishing and managing systems for “right first time” performance and incorporating this philosophy in continuous improvement teams.
• Focuses on plant‑wide issues and inter‑plant initiatives, developing synergies and business opportunities to optimize other manufacturing plants.

Essential Functions, Skills and Attributes

• Leadership and management capabilities.
• Systemic problem solver; implements solutions to address root‑cause problems.
• Inspires team spirit and loyalty to the organization.
• Ability to handle multiple, complex priorities and balance needs according to business impact.
• Strong business and technical skills in processing, packaging and logistics.
• Coaching, motivating and mentoring; sets expectations, tracks and communicates results, and creates an environment for accountability.
• Understands and uses individual and team development tools; confident in giving employees space to learn and make mistakes.
• Strong written, oral and communication skills; excellent listener; ability to translate operational issues into corrective‑action procedures.
• Creative and change‑oriented with continuous‑improvement process skills.
• High energy, assertive, self‑starter.

Minimum Preferred 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 Microsoft Office and statistical software.
• Previous ISO certification desired.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification desired.

Requirements

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

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 vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, 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.