Quality Manager

Clarios•Kernersville, NC

About The Position

The Quality Manager plans and directs quality and continuous-improvement activities for the North American manufacturing group. The role develops, implements, and manages systems that promote quality behavior and discipline throughout manufacturing, ensures compliance with QS and ISO requirements, and represents the plant during audits. The manager leads Plant Quality Technicians and is accountable for quality systems, records, budgets, process specifications, and continuous improvement of the quality management system. The Quality Manager represents the plants to customers and suppliers when quality issues require escalation, coordinates containment actions, and supports resolution of quality and product-liability concerns. The role also drives standardization and sharing of quality practices and tools across plants, including FMEAs, control plans, poka-yokes, testing equipment, technical improvements, and procedures. The position ensures customer requirements are understood and met, including identifying and implementing Customer Specific Requirements and notifying customers of planned changes to design, manufacturing processes, or site. The manager reviews quality reports, customer scorecards and portals, corrective and preventive actions, and quality-cost data, and works with the Plant Manager to address issues. The role also manages hiring, training, performance feedback, and development for direct reports.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience in a quality leadership role in a manufacturing environment.
Hands-on laboratory testing experience.
IATF/VDA audit experience.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present clear and concise information to varied organizational levels.
Six Sigma Green Belt certification required.

Nice To Haves

Six Sigma Black Belt certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Direct quality assurance efforts for product operations, identifying and resolving process, material, or labor issues that could affect quality commitments.
Train staff and use analytical and statistical methods to achieve required quality results.
Represent plants in escalated quality matters with customers and suppliers.
Coordinate plant containment actions and long-term sharing of best practices and standardization across plants.
Support GISC Quality in standardizing quality processes, tools, and best practices across Product Operations plants.
Plan and direct quality and continuous-improvement activities for the North American manufacturing group.
Develop, implement, and manage systems that promote quality behavior and discipline throughout manufacturing.
Ensure QS and ISO requirements are met and act as the plant representative during audits.
Manage and direct Plant Quality Technicians.
Ensure plant purchases follow corporate guidelines, stay within budget, and are made on time.
Manage quality assurance systems and maintain warranty, in-plant scrap, compliance, SNR, and customer-concern data.
Maintain accurate records of internal and external quality costs and prepare annual quality budgets.
Ensure customer expectations are met and promote awareness of customer requirements throughout the location.
Administer and approve existing and new process specifications, including SCO/DCO systems and Control Plans.
Review quality reports to identify issues and assist the Plant Manager with corrective action.
Manage hiring and training for direct reports, monitor performance, provide feedback, and offer development opportunities.
Provide technical support to customers and suppliers resolving quality or product-liability issues.
Determine dispositions for defective materials and hold-ups.
Set quality objectives and related training.
Identify, evaluate, and implement Customer Specific Requirements at the manufacturing site.
Notify customers of planned changes to design, manufacturing process, or site.
Review customer scorecards and portals and take appropriate action.
Monitor site corrective and preventive actions, including proper claims handling.
Maintain and continually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the quality management system, ensuring compliance with current ISO 9001/IATF 16949 requirements.