Job Description

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Quality Manager to lead our Quality Department and drive continuous improvement across our manufacturing operations.

With over 60 years of manufacturing experience, we are a vertically integrated supplier serving the automotive, aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Our capabilities include roll forming, stretch bending, CNC tube bending, stamping, robotic and manual welding, laser cutting, tooling, prototyping, and assembly.

We are looking for a strong leader who understands manufacturing processes, can develop and manage an effective Quality Management System (QMS), and takes an active role in resolving quality concerns on the production floor.

This is not strictly an office-based quality management position. The successful candidate will maintain a strong presence throughout our manufacturing operations, working directly with production, engineering, tooling, and leadership to ensure customer expectations are consistently met.

The Quality Manager will oversee product quality, lead the Quality team, manage customer quality concerns, support new product launches, maintain certification and audit readiness, and drive measurable improvements in quality performance.

Key ResponsibilitiesDepartment Leadership

• Lead, manage, and develop the Quality Department, including quality technicians, inspectors, metrology personnel, and other quality team members.
• Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability within the department.
• Develop and implement quality objectives, departmental goals, and performance metrics.
• Ensure appropriate inspection coverage and quality support across manufacturing operations.
• Train and mentor Quality team members in inspection practices, problem-solving, and quality systems.
• Conduct regular quality meetings to review concerns, corrective actions, customer issues, and improvement opportunities.
• Work closely with executive leadership to communicate quality performance, risks, and resource needs.

Manufacturing & Production Quality

• Maintain an active presence on the production floor to identify and resolve quality concerns.
• Oversee quality performance across roll forming, bending, stamping, welding, laser cutting, tooling, and assembly operations.
• Ensure proper execution of first-piece, in-process, final, and first article inspections.
• Establish and maintain effective inspection procedures, control plans, and quality checkpoints.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering to identify process variation and eliminate recurring defects.
• Oversee containment activities, nonconforming material, rework, and scrap reduction initiatives.
• Ensure production personnel understand and follow applicable quality requirements.
• Support prototype development, new product launches, and production process validation.

Customer Quality & Corrective Actions

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer quality concerns, complaints, and corrective action requests.
• Lead root cause investigations using 8D, 5 Why, fishbone analysis, and other structured problem-solving methods.
• Develop, implement, and verify effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage customer quality portals, scorecards, and performance requirements.
• Lead containment activities and coordinate timely responses to customer concerns.
• Work cross-functionally to resolve quality issues and prevent recurrence.
• Monitor customer PPM, warranty concerns where applicable, internal defects, and recurring nonconformances.
• Build strong customer relationships through effective communication, responsiveness, and accountability.

Quality Management Systems & Audit Compliance

• Maintain and continuously improve our Quality Management System to meet applicable IATF 16949, AS9100, ISO 9001, VDA, and customer-specific requirements.
• Maintain ongoing readiness for internal, customer, and third-party audits.
• Lead preparation, coordination, and execution of quality system audits.
• Oversee internal audit schedules, findings, corrective actions, and follow-up activities.
• Ensure proper document control, record retention, revision management, and traceability.
• Develop, review, and maintain quality procedures, work instructions, inspection standards, and related documentation.
• Coordinate management reviews and ensure required QMS performance data is collected and evaluated.
• Support applicable automotive and aerospace customer quality requirements, including VDA 6.3 process audits and AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
• Ensure corrective actions resulting from audits are completed effectively and on time.

APQP, PPAP & New Product Launches

• Oversee quality planning activities for new programs, engineering changes, and production launches.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of PPAP submissions, dimensional layouts, and First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs).
• Lead or support the development and maintenance of PFMEAs, control plans, process flow diagrams, and inspection plans.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Tooling, Manufacturing, and Sales to ensure customer requirements are understood before production.
• Establish appropriate inspection methods, gaging strategies, and process controls.
• Support capability studies, MSA, SPC, and process validation requirements.
• Ensure lessons learned from previous programs are incorporated into new product launches.

Metrology & Inspection Oversight

• Oversee dimensional inspection activities, including Romer Arm, PolyWorks, CMM, and conventional inspection equipment.
• Ensure inspection methods are accurate, repeatable, and appropriate for customer specifications.
• Manage calibration systems, gage control, and measurement equipment verification.
• Support GD&T interpretation, dimensional concerns, and inspection planning.
• Ensure proper verification of production fixtures, checking fixtures, gages, and tooling.
• Work with the Metrology team to improve inspection efficiency, reporting, and measurement reliability.

Continuous Improvement & Cost of Quality

• Develop and execute initiatives to reduce internal scrap, rework, customer complaints, and quality-related costs.
• Track and report key quality performance indicators.
• Identify recurring manufacturing defects and implement sustainable process improvements.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Maintenance, and Tooling to improve process capability.
• Promote a culture of quality ownership throughout the organization.
• Establish measurable improvement goals and hold teams accountable for results.
• Support supplier quality concerns, incoming material issues, and supplier corrective actions.

QualificationsRequired Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing quality, with demonstrated leadership or supervisory responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing quality systems, including IATF 16949 requirements and automotive core tools.
• Experience supporting or managing ISO 9001, AS9100, VDA, or comparable quality management systems.
• Proven ability to lead root cause investigations and implement effective corrective actions.
• Experience managing customer quality concerns, 8D responses, and customer-specific requirements.
• Strong understanding of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, SPC, and MSA.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and technical specifications.
• Experience working directly with manufacturing personnel to resolve production quality concerns.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in roll forming, metal bending, stamping, welding, or metal fabrication.
• Previous responsibility for IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, or AS9100 audit preparation and execution.
• Experience supporting aerospace First Article Inspections under AS9102.
• Familiarity with Romer Arm, PolyWorks, PC-DMIS, and CMM inspection systems.
• Experience with automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, aerospace customers, or defense programs.
• CQE, CMQ/OE, or Lead Auditor certification.
• Experience implementing or improving quality management systems.
• Experience with ERP-based quality reporting and manufacturing traceability systems.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate is a hands-on quality leader who takes ownership of problems and drives them through resolution.

We are looking for someone who:

• Leads by example and is comfortable spending time on the production floor.
• Takes a proactive approach to preventing quality issues rather than reacting to customer complaints.
• Can balance customer expectations, manufacturing realities, and quality system requirements.
• Has strong technical knowledge but can also develop and lead people.
• Holds themselves and others accountable for quality performance.
• Is organized and disciplined with documentation, audits, and corrective actions.
• Can communicate effectively with everyone from production operators to executive leadership and customers.
• Understands that quality is a company-wide responsibility, not just the responsibility of the Quality Department.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health benefits
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Stable, established company with over 60 years of manufacturing experience
• Opportunity to lead and develop the Quality Department
• Direct involvement in automotive, aerospace, defense, and industrial manufacturing programs
• Opportunity to drive meaningful improvements in manufacturing processes, quality systems, and customer satisfaction
• Long-term growth opportunities as we continue expanding into diversified markets