Quality Coach

La-Z-Boy • Neosho, MO

1d

About The Position

This position plays a key leadership role and is responsible for ensuring all La-Z-Boy furniture products meet or exceed company standards and meet customer expectations. This position oversees daily inspection operations, leads a team of quality inspectors and team leads, and partners closely with production to resolve issues and drive continuous improvement in manufacturing quality. The role helps reinforce La-Z-Boy’s commitment to delivery “WORLD CLASS” consistency while driving timely corrective action for recurring product failures, both internal and external. Ensure that manufacturing operations are capable and meet all engineering specifications and test requirements and ensure quality launches of new products. Leads all plant Quality functions through strong leadership and provides direction, coaching, goals, and training for the quality team in the plant.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in engineering or business with 2-4 years of related experience, or equivalent
• 1-3 years of supervisory/leadership experience
• Knowledge of COQ (cost of quality) and how it relates to problem solving
• Knowledge and understanding of techniques for quality control, data analysis, and decision making
• Strong leadership, team building, organization and planning, interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
• Proficient in MS Office suite
• Experience with project management methodology

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a high volume production-related environment
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certified
• ASQ certification, CQE and/or CMQ/OE

Responsibilities

• Supervise quality inspectors and team leaders across multiple production lines, ensuring adherence to quality procedures and product standards.
• Serve as the first line of response for quality-related issues on the production floor and escalate concerns when necessary.
• Monitor inspection processes for frame assembly, upholstery, finishing, and packaging to ensure consistent quality at every stage.
• Assist in maintaining documentation for quality checks, audits, rework, and non-conformance tracking.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, including Kaizen events, process audits, and root cause investigations (5 Whys, Fishbone, etc.).
• Monitor the affected product field failure trend data to verify the effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Communicate improvements to the entire organization through various media (i.e. newsletter, meetings, town halls, plant meetings, staff meetings, etc.)
• Drive Quality the Source and Self Inspection process to complement the Lean Production Systems.
• Promote a zero-defect culture and quality-at-the-source mindset through training, coaching, and ongoing communication.
• Remain abreast of the status of the development of new products.
• Ensure all elements of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) are followed and gate deliverables are met.
• Provides continuous improvement to new product launch and follows through to full production and sustains superior quality throughout the product life cycle.
• Support the action items and activities of the Dealer Customer Partnership program as they relate to product and process quality improvements.
• Provides prompt response to the product complaints of External Sales Reps and Associates, including acknowledgement of receipt of the complaint and resolution of the product problem.
• Ensure the corporate Quality Operating System (QOS) is adopted, implemented, functioning effectively and continuously improved and the transition to TRANZFORM.
• Manages the QIS (Quality Information System) system for gathering data throughout the operations.
• Assures that measurement systems used in the quality system are appropriate to the current level of the quality system.
• Manages the quality department’s spending and ensures that it meets budget requirements.

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, Dental and Basic Life Insurance
• available 401k retirement plan with company match of up to 6%
• Paid time off includes: 9-11 paid holidays each year, two weeks’ prorated vacation as a new hire and either personal time (non-exempt only) or state mandated sick time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level