Quality Manager

Thunderbird LLC•Elgin, IL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Quality Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining quality systems and processes within a plastic injection molding manufacturing environment. This role ensures that products meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and company quality standards while driving continuous improvement initiatives across production, tooling, and supplier quality.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Manufacturing, or related field preferred.
Equivalent manufacturing quality experience may be considered.
5+ years of quality management experience in plastic injection molding manufacturing.
Strong understanding of molding processes, tooling, resins, and secondary operations.
Experience with automotive, medical, consumer products, or industrial manufacturing environments preferred.
Knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or similar quality standards.
Experience with SPC, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and CAPA systems.
Proficiency with quality inspection equipment such as calipers, micrometers, vision systems, and CMMs.
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and quality software.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Strong organizational and project management abilities.
Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Detail-oriented with strong decision-making capabilities.

Responsibilities

Maintain and improve the company Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with standards such as ISO 9001 and/or IATF 16949.
Lead internal and external quality audits.
Ensure compliance with customer-specific requirements and industry regulations.
Develop and maintain quality procedures, work instructions, and documentation.
Monitor manufacturing processes to ensure consistent product quality.
Analyze production data, scrap rates, defects, and customer complaints to identify trends and corrective actions.
Oversee first article inspections, process validations, and PPAP submissions.
Ensure proper use of statistical process control (SPC) and quality inspection techniques.
Lead root cause analysis.
Drive continuous improvement projects focused on reducing defects, scrap, and rework.
Collaborate with engineering, tooling, maintenance, and production teams to improve molding processes and product quality.
Support Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives.
Serve as the primary contact for customer quality concerns and corrective actions.
Manage supplier quality performance and incoming inspection processes.
Coordinate containment activities and corrective action implementation when quality issues arise.
Participate in customer audits and quality meetings.
Supervise quality technicians, inspectors, and lab personnel.
Train employees on quality standards, inspection methods, and quality awareness.
Establish departmental goals, KPIs, and performance metrics.
Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.