Quality Manager

Description

The Quality Manager provides technical and quality leadership across the production process. This role oversees the Quality System, analyzes production and supplier sample data, communicates findings to appropriate personnel, and ensures compliance with applicable requirements. The Quality Manager also participates in daily and monthly quality and safety audits of equipment and personnel.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Leadership and Operations

· Approach all work, decisions, and communication with a focus on improving quality and eliminating waste.

· Stop any operation that is not producing products that meet customer expectations or that violates approved quality or safety standards.

· Collaborate effectively with other divisions within INDEVCO Group to drive improvements.

· Continuously improve processes both independently and as a team member.

· Ensure compliance with all applicable environmental standards and requirements.

· Ensure that day-to-day machine operations comply with the policies and procedures that make up the Quality System.

· Create an environment of teamwork focused on producing quality products.

· Ensure machine preventive maintenance is performed according to schedule.

· Set the example for safe operation by following established safety guidelines and holding self and others accountable.

· Keep the area clean and organized.

· Initiate and support improvement initiatives.

· Perform other duties as instructed by the Plant Manager.

· Maintain training in the Quality System and internal auditing and train others within the facility.

· Maintain open communication with employees and ensure improvement ideas and operational concerns are reviewed and addressed promptly.

· Maintain familiarity with all laboratory equipment and understand the data associated with testing.

· Coordinate with the sales group on new projects and potential jobs.

· Develop and maintain workflows for technical trials, distribute reports, and recommend changes needed to meet customer goals.

· Research materials, pricing, and related purchasing activities.

· Maintain ISO Quality System certification.

· Maintain SQF certification and compliance.

· Develop custom tools to improve workflow in technical and quality areas.

· Visit customers to review product performance issues and recommend improvements as needed.

· Manage verification, validation, and best practices in IPL’s Food Safety Plan as determined by the Food Safety Management System.

· Manage Personnel Processing Practices in IPL’s Food Safety Plan as determined by the Food Safety Management System.

Standards of Performance

· Communicate and work well with others.

· Demonstrate a basic understanding of computers.

· Make “run/don’t run” decisions with input from the Plant Manager, Production Manager, and/or Technical Manager.

· Meet all required environmental compliance standards.

· Meet safety targets and ICORE standards.

· Meet safety targets and audit timelines.

· Meet environmental compliance requirements, including air permits, waste, and stormwater.

· Meet quality targets, including complaint and NCM targets.

· Meet equipment and support-equipment installation timelines.

Knowledge

· Understand all products produced at the facility, including technical data and performance on customers’ equipment.

· Understand basic laboratory machine functions.

· Understand Quality Systems and Food Safety standards.

· Maintain working knowledge of flexible packaging, including inline printing and blown film.

Competencies

· Customer Focus: Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers and using firsthand information to improve products and processes.

· Directing Others: Establishes clear direction, organizes work effectively, maintains two-way dialogue, and communicates expectations and results clearly.

· Functional and Technical Skills: Applies the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform the role at a high level.

· Problem Solving: Uses logic and effective methods to solve difficult problems, looks beyond the obvious, and pursues complete solutions.

· Learning on the Fly: Learns quickly, adapts to change, analyzes successes and failures for improvement, embraces unfamiliar challenges, and rapidly grasps underlying concepts and structures.

Requirements

Qualifications

Education and Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in quality systems/management, chemical engineering, polymer science or a related field; equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered.

· Five or more years of progressive quality experience in a manufacturing environment, including experience leading quality systems, audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.

· Supervisory or management experience with responsibility for developing employees, coordinating cross-functional work, and communicating with customers and suppliers.

· Experience with ISO-based quality management systems and internal auditing required; experience maintaining certification is preferred.

· Experience with SQF, regulatory compliance, and flexible packaging manufacturing—particularly blown film or inline printing—is strongly preferred.

· Professional quality certification, such as ASQ Certified Quality Manager or Certified Quality Auditor, is preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Work is performed in office, laboratory, and manufacturing environments and requires regular time on the production floor. The role may involve prolonged sitting or standing, walking, bending, reaching, climbing stairs, and occasionally lifting or carrying materials, samples, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. Employees must be able to safely access production and laboratory areas, operate standard office and testing equipment, and wear required personal protective equipment. Exposure may include operating machinery, noise, heat, odors, chemicals, and other conditions typical of plastics manufacturing. The position may require occasional travel to customer or supplier locations and flexibility outside standard business hours to support audits, production issues, trials, or urgent quality matters. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Along with a competitive salary, Indevco's generous benefit package includes: Medica/Dental/Vision, HSA, Flex Spending, Company Paid Life and AD&D, 401K with company match and more.