Quality Manager at Kaplan in Portland, IN

Quality Manager

Location: Portland, IN, USA

Job Title

Quality Manager

Summary

As the Quality Manager, you will be responsible for managing and ensuring the outstanding quality of products, providing support to the facility translating and integrating improvements into our operations seamlessly sustaining and improving the foundational quality competencies and capabilities utilizing Engineering, Quality principles and tools, and applying our manufacturing processes, product requirements, manufacturing equipment and quality systems to prevent and resolve manufacturing technical problems, and product quality issues. This position is a salary exempt position that reports to the Plant Manager.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide overall strategic leadership for all quality initiatives and systems at the Portland facility.

• Assess gaps in quality performance, conduct routine quality reviews with departments, and partner with operations to address and resolve issues.

• Lead problem-solving efforts and strategic direction, including supporting 8D efforts to resolve external customer issues.

• Establish programs to evaluate and ensure the precision and accuracy of all production, testing, and analytical equipment and facilities.

• Drive continuous improvement by actively participating in and supporting Lean initiatives and methodologies.

• Direct manufacturing leaders via thought leadership to ensure high-quality output, foster a culture of accountability, and achieve strategic initiatives.

• Supplier Quality Management: qualify new suppliers, audit existing suppliers and address supplier non-conformances in coordination with the Supply Chain Manager.

• Integrate quality objectives into manufacturing processes to drive defect identification to the earliest point possible.

• Establish, create, and leverage robust data, metrics, and reporting to monitor production levels, track progress toward goals, and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Track and routinely monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) with active data analysis to target and drive change and provide visibility to manufacturing and leadership teams.

• Develop and implement corrective actions based on data analysis to reduce waste and support key company objectives.

• Demonstrate successful application of Lean principles such as Value Stream Mapping, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Statistical Problem Solving.

• Support Manufacturing Excellence by implementing Lean initiatives and maintaining good housekeeping and safety standards.

• Oversee documentation and record keeping including the creation, control and retention of quality-related documents.

• Lead, manage, support, and hold accountable quality personnel, including the direct oversight of the Quality Assurance Supervisor, to build and retain a high-performing team.

• Oversee all aspects of team development, including selection, training, goal setting, career development, and performance management.

• Manage the assigned departmental budget, including development and oversight.

• Establish strong cross-functional relationships and collaborate closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and other departments to align strategies.

• Maintain comprehensive industry knowledge, staying current with trends and emerging technologies to ensure policies and processes are fully leveraged.

• Uphold company values and lead by example.

Critical Skills:

• Trustworthiness- We earn trust through honesty, integrity and reliability.

• Adaptable- We are able to maintain effectiveness in a changing environment.

• Approachable- We are open minded, friendly, engaging, understanding and empathetic; being comfortable engaging in challenging conversations.

• Curious- We improve the organization by seeking information and knowledge to continually grow and learn and reduce moments of uncertainty and ambiguity.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required in an Engineering or related technical degree; Master’s degree a plus

• Minimum 10 years of quality experience in a manufacturing environment, including management responsibilities.

• LEAN proficiency, process-oriented, data-driven mindset for decision making and driving quality into the product, whether manufactured in-house or through contract manufacturing partners and suppliers.

• Ability to lead and motivate others by articulating and implementing a LEAN vision for manufacturing. Ability to build, develop and retain a high-performing team through assessment, recruiting, coaching and developing others.

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and achieve results in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Demonstrated ERP/MRP experience.

• High degree of personal accountability and integrity.

• Ability and willingness to provide hands-on support if/when necessary.

• Knowledge of metrology tools and practices commonly found in machine shop environments.

• A fundamentally sound working knowledge of ISO requirements

• Strong computer skills needed to conduct data analysis and develop requisite processes.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of standing.

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must be able to lift up to 35 pounds at times.

Time Type

Full time

Joyce/Dayton Corp. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status.