Quality Manager
- No Relocation – Local MA/NH Candidates only
- “NOT looking for an “armchair engineer” – Ideally a "roll up your sleeves" Quality Engineering professional experience with Plastics”
JOB SUMMARY:
Main Responsibilities:
- Quality Management System Oversight - Develop, implement, and maintain the QMS in compliance with ISO, 9001:2015 and other applicable regulatory standards.
- Audit and Compliance - Coordinate and lead internal, customer, and third-party audits. Ensure timely and effective responses to audit findings and implement corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
- Continuous Improvement - Lead quality improvement initiatives focused on reducing waste, defects, and variation in processes. Utilize methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis.
- Documentation and Reporting - Maintain all quality-related documentation including procedures, work instructions, forms, and records. Generate reports on quality performance, trends, and compliance metrics.
- Team Leadership - Supervise and mentor quality staff, including inspectors and technicians. Foster a culture of quality awareness and accountability across the organization.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration - Work closely with production, engineering, supply chain, and customer service teams to resolve quality issues, ensure customer satisfaction, and support product development and changes.
- Training - Provide training on quality standards, inspection techniques, regulatory requirements, quality policies, procedures, and continuous improvement tools. Maintain accurate, up-to-date training and qualification records for all staff as part of QMS documentation.
- Supplier Quality - Manage supplier quality performance, including audits, approvals, and corrective action tracking. Collaborate on first article inspections (FAI) and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) to validate new components or suppliers.
- Fiscal Responsibility - Monitor and reduce the cost of poor quality (COPQ) through effective root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive strategies. Identify opportunities for cost savings related to scrap, rework, warranty claims, and returns. Collaborate with Finance and Operations to assess the financial impact of quality initiatives and support data-driven decisions that balance compliance, performance, and cost-efficiency.
Education/ Experience & Special Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in quality management, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a quality role within a manufacturing environment, with at least 2 years in a leadership capacity.
- Proven ability to lead quality-related projects, conduct gap assessments, and develop performance metrics to support continuous improvement and compliance initiatives.
- In-depth knowledge of quality standards and regulations (e.g., ISO 9001, UL 1203, UL 508, NSF 61, depending on industry).
- Strong experience with QMS implementation and audit processes.
- Experience developing and delivering quality-related training programs.
- Familiarity with COPQ metrics, audit planning, and process improvement methodologies.
