Quality Manager

Trustile Doors•Northwood, IA

About The Position

The Quality Manager leads and continuously improves the Quality Management System (QMS) for a custom architectural wood door manufacturing operation. The role ensures products meet customer specifications, company standards, and regulatory requirements while minimizing defects, remakes, and warranty claims. As a member of the manufacturing leadership team, the Quality Manager leads Quality Coordinators, Inspectors, and other quality personnel and works closely with Production, Engineering, Scheduling, Finishing, Customer Service, Sales, Operations, Purchasing, and suppliers. The position is reported to Noah Reed and has multiple direct reports. The Quality Manager is accountable for developing a culture of quality and ensuring quality is built into each stage of manufacturing, from order review through final shipment. Responsibilities span team leadership, QMS development and compliance, custom-product quality, inspection and defect prevention, customer complaints and warranty claims, process improvement, and supplier quality.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Engineering, Quality Management, Industrial Technology, Business, or a related field preferred.
3–5+ years of manufacturing quality experience.
Experience leading Quality Management Systems and continuous improvement initiatives.
Strong understanding of quality systems and manufacturing processes.
Ability to read and interpret shop drawings, specifications, blueprints, and engineering documents.
Strong knowledge of root-cause analysis methodologies and experience with CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) systems.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent leadership, coaching, and team-development abilities.
Strong communication and conflict-resolution skills.
High attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, data-analysis tools, and ERP systems.

Nice To Haves

Leadership experience managing direct reports.
Experience in wood products, millwork, cabinetry, furniture, windows, doors, architectural products, or custom manufacturing environments.
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).
ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CMQ/OE).
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
ISO Internal Auditor Certification.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Quality Coordinators, Inspectors, and other quality personnel; establish performance expectations, conduct reviews, and create development plans.
Build plant-wide accountability and continuous improvement, support manufacturing teams on quality expectations, lead quality training and certification programs, and ensure adequate staffing and coverage.
Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the plant QMS, including quality policies, procedures, work instructions, inspection standards, document control, and revision processes.
Ensure compliance with company quality standards, customer requirements, and industry best practices; lead internal audits and corrective action programs.
Ensure custom wood doors meet customer-specific drawings, specifications, dimensions, finish requirements, and performance standards.
Develop quality controls for custom and engineered-to-order products; collaborate with Engineering and Production on manufacturability and quality requirements before production.
Review quality risks for custom products and implement preventative measures; drive defect prevention across machining, assembly, sanding, finishing, and packaging.
Establish production inspection processes and monitor critical quality characteristics for raw materials, work-in-process, and finished products.
Analyze quality trends, lead structured root-cause investigations, and implement corrective and preventative actions.
Ensure non-conforming materials and products are identified, documented, and dispositioned; maintain metrics for defects, scrap, rework, remakes, and customer complaints.
Serve as the primary quality contact for customer concerns and warranty issues; investigate complaints and warranty claims, develop corrective action plans, and track and report customer quality performance.
Collaborate with Sales, Customer Service, and Operations to improve customer satisfaction.
Use Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, SPC, 5S, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement tools; lead cross-functional efforts to reduce defects, scrap, rework, and warranty costs.
Analyze process capability, identify improvement opportunities, develop quality dashboards and reporting systems, and support new product introductions and manufacturing process changes.
Partner with Purchasing and suppliers to improve incoming material quality; work with suppliers of lumber, veneers, cores, glass, hardware, and finishing materials.
Lead supplier corrective actions when material quality issues arise, monitor supplier quality performance, and implement improvement initiatives.