Quality Control Manager

Job Title: Quality Manager

Department: Quality Department

Supervisor Title: President

Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Working Status: Full-Time

Position Purpose

The Quality Manager is a member of the Leadership Team responsible for supporting company's long-term sustainability and success. This role provides management and leadership to the Quality Department, which oversees the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure customers receive products that meet or exceed specified requirements.

The Quality Manager evaluates and observes the entire manufacturing process to uphold company policies, support business growth, and maximize safety, quality, security, efficiency, and timeliness while minimizing cost. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be revised as organizational needs evolve.

Essential Duties – Leadership Team Member

Support the achievement of company sales growth and profitability.

Ensure compliance with all company safety and environmental policies, programs, and legally mandated standards.

Ensure customer satisfaction related to quality, cost, and delivery.

Enhance company reputation through social and community involvement.

Provide leadership to achieve the company's mission, vision, values, goals, and departmental scorecards.

Essential Duties – Quality Manager

Provide leadership for the Quality Department.

Lead, supervise, and assign roles and responsibilities to Quality Department personnel to meet business plans and scorecard goals.

Support and contribute to production department profitability and continuous improvement.

Ensure the Quality Management System conforms to customer, internal, IATF 16949, and regulatory/legal requirements.

Evaluate and report on supplier quality systems.

Oversee inspection of incoming materials to ensure conformance to requirements.

Manage monitoring, measurement, and review of internal processes affecting product quality.

Lead Quality Engineers, Inspectors, and Technicians.

Collaborate with customers, company's HQ in Japan, employees, contractors, and outsourcing partners to define product requirements.

Report QMS performance to Leadership Team members, including audit results and corrective actions.

Conduct periodic management review meetings.

Respond to and oversee customer concerns, complaints, and potential product recalls.

Ensure accuracy and timeliness of inspection and calibration of monitoring and measuring equipment.

Stay current on standards, regulations, laws, and industry developments related to quality.

General Duties

1.Safety and Environment

Ensure compliance with safety and environmental policies and legal requirements.

Improve safety and working conditions.

Ensure accurate documentation related to safety and environmental matters.

Promote continuous improvement activities to reduce safety and environmental risks.

2. Quality

Ensure compliance with product and process drawings, standards, and specifications.

Maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.

Support customer and third-party quality audits by providing resources and assistance.

Resolve quality-related issues and promote preventive actions.

Drive continuous improvement to reduce quality defects.

3. Cost

Lead Kaizen activities focused on cost reduction.

Promote innovative ideas to improve processes and efficiency.

4. Delivery

Support on-time delivery by ensuring production departments have well-maintained equipment, tools, and molds.

5. Human Resources

Communicate company and departmental policies and direction to employees.

Develop and maintain performance standards for departmental roles.

Ensure fair and consistent performance evaluations.

Maximize employee capabilities through development and training programs.

Resolve payroll-related issues including overtime, sick time, and vacation records.

Maintain staffing levels by participating in hiring and interview processes.

6. Business Planning and Financial Results

Develop departmental business plans, including manpower, investment, and Kaizen initiatives.

Manage manpower and financial resources to meet company and departmental goals.

Maintain and update asset records.

Ensure timely processing of purchase orders, receipts, invoices, and accounts payable documentation.

7. Operational Standards

Develop, maintain, and update operational standards related to the Quality Department.

Other Duties

Delegate tasks as appropriate to supervisors or qualified personnel.

Keep the Leadership Team informed of activities and progress.

Perform additional duties as necessary to maintain production, safety, quality, and efficiency.

Lead and support 5S initiatives across departments.

Training Requirements

1. Leadership Development

2. KPI and PDCA Management

3. Quality Systems (Company Standards and IATF 16949)

4. Basic Product Engineering

5. Basic Process Engineering

Education and Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree or higher is preferred. Equivalent qualifications may be met through a combination of education, transferable work experience, demonstrated aptitude, and a positive attitude toward learning and compliance with job expectations.

Decision-Making Authority

Disposition of nonconforming products and implementation of corrective actions, including customer involvement when required.

Management of manpower, overtime, and financial resources.

Identification of improvement opportunities and development of action plans.

Evaluation of direct-report employee performance.

Determination of appropriate responses to production and quality issues.

Resolution of issues outside standard procedures.

Financial Responsibilities

Achieve departmental profitability targets.

Manage departmental costs in alignment with the business plan.

Develop cost-reduction and Kaizen initiatives.

Reduce losses related to poor quality, inefficiencies, absenteeism, and waste. 

Communication

Maintain strong working relationships with customers to ensure satisfaction.

Foster open, two-way communication with Leadership Team members, supervisors, support departments, and operators.

Communicate with HQ in Japan as needed for engineering support and guidance.

Participate in daily, weekly, and quarterly Leadership Team meetings.

Maintain employee records related to performance, attendance, and evaluations.

Results of Actions

Achievement of company and departmental goals as measured by scorecards.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct oversight of all Quality Department personnel.

Full accountability for actions and outcomes within the Quality Department.

Equipment Used

Measuring and testing equipment related to quality.

Equipment varies depending on assigned tasks.

Computer systems including Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, i5, ERP, and Barcode Systems.

Knowledge and Skills

Leadership and people management

Decision-making, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and training skills

Technical knowledge of products, processes, and machinery

Basic product and process engineering knowledge

Computer proficiency (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, i5, ERP, Barcode Systems)

Quality Management Systems, including IATF 16949

Measuring and testing techniques for process and finished product evaluation

Working Conditions

Position responsibilities include time spent on the plant floor.

Flexible work location between front office and plant office as required.