QA Manager Job Opening

The Quality Manager will provide leadership in Quality Assurance, Continuous Improvement and Engineering Services by ensuring that the company meets or exceeds customer requirements by developing, improving and maintaining a consistent methodology for compliance and continuous improvement. Focus areas include the Management of Quality Business System, Production Quality, Supplier Quality, Continuous Improvement Processes, and Engineering Services including design, manufacturing and sustaining Engineering. This position reports to the Director of Operations.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Quality Assurance

• Manages, improves and maintains the Quality Business System
• Management of the Corrective and Preventive Action System
• Manage the Internal Audit Process
• Provides leadership for continuous improvement and overall management of the company’s Quality Business System ensuring compliance with corporate requirements, current ISO 9001 requirements and all other applicable quality standards
• Develop and deploy quality initiatives ensuring success of business goals and objectives
• Management representative for the ISO 9001 Certification Program

Production Quality

• Oversee capability studies on manufacturing equipment, completes equipment installation run-offs, gage R&R studies.
• Coordinate product testing support for the organization;
• Support the Strategic Business Units
• Provides the new product development with the appropriate resources to execute initiatives (procedures, identifying critical to quality requirements, sampling, process controls, and quality plans, certifications)
• Provides statistical analysis, support and expertise
• Interact with Production Management to ensure in-process quality requirements are met; vigorously implements process controls for legacy, ongoing, production

Supplier Quality

• Completes Supplier/Customer capability assessments;
• Support Supplier Development to ensure Suppliers meet documented requirements
• Communicates with suppliers concerning PPAP, SCAR and CI activities
• Interface with Materials Management and the Corporate Supplier Quality group
• Implements supplier scorecards for key suppliers to drive improvements

Regulatory Certification Maintenance

• Maintains an understanding of all certifying agency standards that are applicable to the company’s products
• Coordinate and receive external agency inspection audits;
• Ensure any applicable standards requirements are accurately reflected in product designs
• Validate certification testing to ensure compliance and approval from governing bodies (ANSI, CSA, NSF,UL) as required
• Provide QA support on new product ideation teams
• Support domestic or international Codes and Standards activities as required
• Represent Quality Assurance by participating on the Site Leadership Team

Quality Management Support

• Lead in the In-Process and Supplier Material Review Board Meetings
• Make decisions using Acceptance Criteria and Product Specifications regarding quality of the products
• Interacts regularly with all departments to establish and maintain quality standards
• Provides leadership and performance management for the Quality Department
  • Develops, updates, and reviews performance plans
  • Performs supervisory functions
  • Manage and control QA Budget

Customer Quality

• Lead the interaction with customers on all Quality related actions.
• Coordinate the customer response to all site quality related issues from containment to root cause to corrective and preventative action.
• Professionally communicate in a highly proactive (responsive as well) manner to all customer quality related issues to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Champion the position of the customer at the site for all processes including the leadership of comprehensive internal customer quality reviews.
• Teach direct reports, peers, and the broader population about best practices in customer service and support.
• Analyze internal escape data to understand trends to apply corrective and preventative action to drive delivered customer quality to world class levels.

Talent Management

• Actively coach and manage Quality resources across the board according to the Cost of Quality model
• Actively drive resource capability from a focus on inspection control to process controls
• Develop people in the organization thru coaching, formal training and job assignment for customer focus, process controls, and preventative action
• Conduct strategic talent reviews to develop plans for every person, identify and develop succession plans, and identify personnel/organizational risks
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and empowerment for our employees to focus on the customer and apply rigorous process controls and preventive action

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering, manufacturing, or business area required
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification required
• Must have 7 to 10 years’ experience with the use and implementation of Total Quality concepts in a manufacturing environment
• Must have 7 to 10 years management experience in a manufacturing environment
• Must have 7 to 10 years Lean Six Sigma experience and training - MBB certification preferred
• Prior experience with the implementation and use of Statistical Process Control and Advanced Analytical Techniques are required
• Comprehensive knowledge of engineering, lean six sigma and quality principles, concepts, practices, and theories
• Computer proficiency on Microsoft Office and statistical packages (Minitab preferred)
• Ability to work with Customer/Supplier representatives for all quality related issues
• Excellent organizational skills with focus on detail
• Excellent written and oral communication skills essential to connect with audiences that vary from employees to leadership from direct reports to peers; from customers to suppliers; and regulatory agencies.

MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISION:

Direct reports

Ensure company policies are followed.Enforce company safety policies.

*PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, talk, and/or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

*WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work in office environment

May occasionally be required to perform job duties outside the typical office setting.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Travel: Some travel required

• As required by the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA)

EMPLOYEE CORE COMPETENCIES:
1. Collaborate Across Workgroup
2. Initiate Positive Change
3. Deliver High Quality Results
4. Focus on the Customer

5. Develops Self & Others

6. Accountability

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Watts is committed to equal employment opportunity. We follow a policy of administering all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, military or veteran status, minorities, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the obligations of state and federal law, Watts will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Any employee who needs a reasonable accommodation should contact Human Resources.