Quality Manager

US Farathane•Riverside, MO

About The Position

The Quality Manager develops, implements, and maintains the Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, and applicable regulatory standards. The role leads quality assurance, quality engineering, and inspection activities to ensure product conformity, reduce defects, support continuous improvement, and maintain customer satisfaction in an automotive plastic injection molding environment serving OEM and Tier 1 customers. The position directs the plant quality department, serves as the site Management Representative for quality systems, and works with Production, Engineering, Tooling, customers, suppliers, and Corporate Quality. It supports new product launches and process changes, manages customer and supplier quality issues, and promotes quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across the plant. US Farathane has supplied the automotive industry with plastics manufacturing for over 40 years. Its offerings include full-service support from design concepts to engineered composites, TPEs and TPOs, as well as specialized extrusion and compression technologies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related field, or equivalent five years of experience.
At least 5 years of quality leadership experience in automotive manufacturing.
Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949 and automotive core tools.
Experience in plastic injection molding or high-volume manufacturing environments.
Proven experience leading audits, customer interactions, and corrective actions.
Proficiency with quality data analysis, SPC software, and MS Office.
Strong knowledge of statistical analysis and process capability studies.
Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
Effective communication with customers and internal teams.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Detail orientation and a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including standing, walking, sitting, bending, stooping, reaching, extended periods on the production floor, and occasional handling of materials or equipment up to 40 pounds.
Ability to visually inspect parts, tooling, and documentation, including close vision, depth perception, and color differentiation.
Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and in writing.
Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

IATF 16949 Lead Auditor certification.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Experience working with Tier 1 or OEM automotive customers.
Experience supporting multi-shift manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

Lead and maintain compliance with IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements.
Directly supervise the plant quality department team, including selection, hiring, training, performance evaluations, and work scheduling.
Serve as the site Management Representative for quality systems.
Report abnormal quality KPIs and customer scorecards, along with related corrective and preventive actions, to the General Manager and Corporate Quality.
Track QMS-required quality metrics and develop action plans to achieve green metrics.
Review customer and engineering requirements and support successful new production launches through APQP and PPAP activities.
Develop, update, and control quality procedures, work instructions, and records.
Prepare for and lead internal, customer, and third-party audits.
Drive corrective and preventive actions using structured problem-solving methods.
Serve as a primary quality contact for automotive customers, including OEM and Tier 1 customers.
Manage customer complaints, warranty issues, and scorecards.
Lead 8D problem-solving, root cause analysis, and corrective action submissions.
Support customer PPAP submissions, launch readiness, and change management.
Oversee supplier quality performance, including audits and corrective actions.
Ensure compliance with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC.
Monitor and analyze quality metrics, including PPM, scrap, rework, and customer returns.
Partner with Production, Engineering, and Tooling to reduce defects and improve process capability.
Support new product launches, process changes, and tooling modifications.
Ensure effective incoming, in-process, and final inspection systems.
Lead, coach, and develop Quality Engineers, Quality Technicians, the Quality Supervisor, Auditors, and Inspectors.
Establish department goals aligned with plant KPIs.
Conduct performance reviews and support training and skill development.
Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Drive Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Use data-driven decision-making to identify trends and prevent recurring issues.
Manage and support layered process audits (LPA) and risk mitigation activities.
Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements related to quality.
Perform other duties as assigned.