Quality Manager

Pratt Industries•Conyers, GA

About The Position

The Quality Manager leads the plant’s continuous improvement initiatives and provides leadership, planning, communication, and coaching to support the safe, cost-effective production of high-quality products that meet customer needs. The role ensures compliance with the company’s Mission Statement and Quality Policy, as well as customer guidelines and agreements. The position directs the plant Quality Management System, promotes continuous improvement in cost, quality, and service, and oversees quality-related accountabilities including vendor performance, customer complaints, investigation of product defects, and quality data and reporting. It ensures customer feedback is addressed promptly through root-cause analysis and corrective action, and establishes systems to support “right first time” product quality. The Quality Manager also participates in plant and company processes, promotes a customer-focused environment, oversees continuous improvement programs, communicates quality needs to plant leadership, develops methods to reduce or avoid costs and improve products and workplace safety, and prepares required notices, postings, and reports for government and regulatory bodies. The role requires leadership, systemic problem-solving, coaching and mentoring, communication and listening skills, the ability to manage complex priorities, and a continuous-improvement and change-oriented approach. A college degree in manufacturing, engineering, logistics, or equivalent work experience is required, along with experience in multiple manufacturing areas. Quality-system management or manufacturing/corrugated leadership experience and previous ISO certification are preferred. The employee regularly walks, talks, hears, and lifts or moves up to 50 pounds. The work environment frequently involves wet or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and fumes or airborne particles. Pratt Industries describes itself as a paper and packaging company with more than 9,000 employees and manufacturing facilities in more than twenty states. The company states a commitment to recycling, the environment, and sustainability. It offers a competitive compensation plan and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage, All State, pre-paid legal, a 401(k) with company match, paid vacation, paid holidays, and childbearing and parental leave.

Requirements

College degree in manufacturing, engineering, logistics, or equivalent work experience.
Experience in a variety of manufacturing areas, including production and logistics.
Competence with MS Office and statistical software.
Leadership and management capability, including systemic problem-solving and implementing solutions to address root causes.
Ability to handle multiple complex priorities and balance needs according to business impact.
Coaching, motivating, mentoring, and team and individual development skills.
Ability to set expectations, track and communicate results, and foster accountability for actions and results.
Strong written, oral, and communication skills; excellent listening skills; and ability to translate operational issues into corrective-action procedures.
Ability to learn, with a high-energy, assertive, and self-starting approach.
Ability to walk regularly; talk and hear regularly; stand frequently; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms frequently; sit occasionally; and regularly lift or move up to 50 pounds.
Vision abilities including close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Experience in quality system management or manufacturing/corrugated leadership.
Previous ISO certification.
Creative, change-oriented approach and continuous improvement process skills.

Responsibilities

Direct the plant Quality Management System.
Drive continuous improvement to improve cost, quality, and service.
Drive plant accountabilities for vendor performance tracking, customer complaint resolution and disposition, investigation of critical quality defects in in-process and finished products, and generation and analysis of quality data and reports.
Ensure customer feedback is addressed promptly and complaints receive root-cause analysis and corrective action.
Ensure product quality by establishing and managing systems for “right first time” performance and incorporating this philosophy into continuous improvement teams.
Think strategically and actively participate in plant and company processes.
Build and retain a customer-focused environment for internal and external customers.
Adhere to plant Good Manufacturing Practices and standard operating procedures, and manage, drive, and oversee continuous improvement programs.
Communicate quality-function needs to the Production Manager, Plant Manager, and local management team as needed.
Develop and analyze methods to reduce or avoid costs, improve products, and assure a safe working environment.
Prepare legal notices, postings, and reports required by government and regulatory bodies.
Comply with company policies and procedures.
Perform additional duties as assigned by management.