Quality Manager - Cell Manufacturing Plant

Our Next Energy (ONE)•Belleville, MI

13d

About The Position

The Quality Manager will lead all day-to-day quality activities supporting battery cell manufacturing operations. This role involves developing and executing the plant quality strategy, establishing clear quality standards, controls, inspection requirements, and escalation processes. The Quality Manager will maintain a strong floor presence, partner with production leadership to resolve quality issues, and ensure quality requirements are integrated into production processes. This position provides quality leadership during production ramp-up, equipment commissioning, process changes, and new product introductions, and establishes appropriate quality coverage for plant operating schedules.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline
7+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing quality, quality engineering, or related manufacturing operations
3+ years of experience leading quality teams or quality functions within a manufacturing environment
Experience in high-volume or highly automated manufacturing
Strong working knowledge of quality systems and manufacturing quality methodologies
Demonstrated experience with PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, process capability, root cause analysis, and corrective action
Experience leading complex manufacturing quality investigations
Strong understanding of nonconforming material control and containment processes
Demonstrated ability to analyze manufacturing data and translate findings into corrective actions
Experience working directly with production and engineering teams in a manufacturing environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive accountability

Nice To Haves

Experience in lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing
Experience in battery, automotive, semiconductor, chemical processing, electronics, pharmaceutical, medical device, or other highly controlled manufacturing environments
Knowledge of battery cell manufacturing processes such as mixing, coating, calendaring, slitting, electrode processing, cell assembly, electrolyte filling, formation, aging, and end-of-line testing
Experience with ISO 9001 and/or IATF 16949 quality systems.
Experience with APQP and PPAP
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Black Belt, or similar certification
Experience supporting manufacturing launches, production ramp-up, or greenfield manufacturing operations
Experience with automated inspection, manufacturing data systems, MES, and statistical quality software
Familiarity with battery safety, product traceability and failure analysis

Responsibilities

Lead all day-to-day quality activities supporting battery cell manufacturing operations.
Develop and execute the plant quality strategy in alignment with ONE's manufacturing and business objectives.
Establish clear quality standards, controls, inspection requirements, and escalation processes throughout the manufacturing process.
Maintain a strong floor presence and partner directly with production leadership to identify and resolve quality issues.
Ensure quality requirements are integrated into production processes, work instructions, control plans, and manufacturing standards.
Provide quality leadership during production ramp-up, equipment commissioning, process changes, and new product introductions.
Establish appropriate quality coverage and support for plant operating schedules.
Monitor and improve critical-to-quality characteristics throughout the cell manufacturing process.
Establish and maintain appropriate process controls, inspection plans, sampling plans, control plans, and acceptance criteria.
Lead investigations involving process deviations, defects, yield losses, scrap, rework, and product nonconformance.
Partner with Manufacturing and Process Engineering to improve process capability and reduce manufacturing variation.
Utilize statistical methods to identify trends and prevent quality escapes.
Drive improvements in first-pass yield, scrap, defect rates, process capability, and overall manufacturing quality performance.
Ensure product traceability and appropriate disposition of suspect or nonconforming materials.
Own or oversee the plant nonconforming material process.
Lead containment activities when significant quality issues are identified.
Ensure timely and effective disposition of nonconforming materials.
Lead structured root cause investigations using methodologies such as: 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa, Fault Tree Analysis, DMAIC.
Develop and verify corrective and preventive actions.
Ensure corrective actions address systemic causes rather than symptoms.
Track corrective actions through closure and verify effectiveness.
Support implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of ONE's Quality Management System.
Ensure plant quality processes comply with applicable internal standards, customer requirements, and regulatory requirements.
Support compliance with ISO 9001 and, where applicable, automotive quality requirements including IATF 16949.
Develop, maintain, and improve quality procedures, work instructions, forms, records, and control plans.
Support internal, customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
Lead corrective actions resulting from audit findings.
Ensure appropriate document control and quality record retention.
Participate in APQP activities supporting new products and manufacturing processes.
Lead or support development and maintenance of: PFMEAs, Control Plans, Process Flow Diagrams, Measurement System Analysis (MSA), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Process Capability Studies, PPAP documentation, when applicable.
Participate in manufacturing readiness reviews and process validation activities.
Ensure quality risks are identified and mitigated before production launch or significant process changes.
Partner with Supplier Quality and Supply Chain to establish incoming material quality requirements.
Monitor incoming material performance and supplier-related quality trends.
Lead plant containment activities associated with supplier defects.
Support supplier corrective action requests and verification of corrective actions.
Ensure suspect supplier material is appropriately identified, segregated, controlled, and dispositioned.
Provide manufacturing data and technical analysis to support supplier quality improvement efforts.
Ensure appropriate inspection and test methods are established for critical product and process characteristics.
Support management of measurement equipment, calibration systems, and gauge controls.
Ensure measurement systems are capable, repeatable, and appropriate for their intended use.
Partner with laboratory and engineering teams regarding material characterization, cell testing, failure analysis, and product validation.
Ensure inspection and testing results are appropriately documented and traceable.
Develop, monitor, and report plant quality KPIs including: First Pass Yield (FPY), Rolled Throughput Yield (RTY), Scrap and rework, Defects per unit / defect rates, Supplier defect performance, Customer complaints and escapes, Nonconformance aging, Corrective action closure, Process capability (Cp/Cpk), Audit findings, Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
Analyze trends and lead cross-functional improvement initiatives based on quality performance data.
Support investigation and resolution of customer quality concerns.
Coordinate containment, root cause analysis, corrective action, and customer response activities.
Support preparation of 8D and other formal customer quality responses.
Ensure lessons learned from customer issues are incorporated into manufacturing processes and quality systems.
Support customer audits, visits, and manufacturing quality reviews.
Lead, coach, and develop plant Quality Engineers, Quality Technicians, Inspectors, and other assigned quality personnel.
Establish clear expectations, responsibilities, and performance objectives.
Develop the technical capabilities of the plant quality organization.
Ensure appropriate quality staffing and floor coverage based on manufacturing needs.
Build strong working relationships across Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, EHS, and Product Development.
Promote a culture in which quality is owned by the entire organization rather than solely by the Quality department.