Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

Job Summary:

Since 1934, Stabilus has offered components for diverse applications. We started out as a manufacturer of retrofittable stabilizers for the American automotive industry in 1962 and were the first company in the world to produce gas springs as standard equipment. Since then, we have continued to establish our pioneering role: With a wide range of applications, our unique product range, and decades of experience, we are the world's leading manufacturer of solutions based on gas springs, dampers, and electromechanical drives.

The Quality Assurance Manager will manage the Quality Department establishing, maintaining, and improving customer and supplier relationships. This position is responsible for administering the company’s Quality Assurance program by providing a central point of management for quality assurance activities that assist in the implementation of the company’s goals and objectives.

Main Tasks 

• Develops, maintains and supervises a staff skilled and knowledgeable in state-of-the-art inspection techniques and company Quality Assurance policies.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and presents information concerning factors such as business situations, production capabilities, manufacturing problems, statistical trends, and proposed process changes. Reviews factors in light of quality of product and reliability of quality during production.
• QMR management team representative that establishes, implements, and monitors standard operating procedures in accordance with IATF16949.
• Manages the inspection and evaluation of products, parts, and materials in relation to quality factors and measures. Oversees the training of employees, setting of performance goals, organization of work, and maintenance of a productive and motivational climate.
• Monitors divisional quality performance in areas of rejects, scrap, rework, vendor performance, etc. Highlights quality problems areas, recommends and implements solutions.
• Interface with customer quality and warranty departments issuing regular reports to management on customer satisfaction trends and related activities.
• Visits and confers with representatives of material and component suppliers to obtain information related to supply quality, capacity of vendors to meet orders, and vendor quality standards.
• Represents the department at planning and other regular management meetings to provide assistance and recommendations to resolve engineering, production, and technical problems.
• Participates in research, development, and design of long-range strategic objectives. Works with other departmental managers in the laying out and planning of potential future operational changes.
• Reviews all Engineering changes and product releases and recommends inspection gages and equipment necessary to effectively ensure that each part or assembly meets or exceeds the tolerances and finishes, and material content specified.
• Conducts management meetings with other departmental managers to establish, delineate, and review programs and organizational policies. Coordinates functions and operations between Quality Assurance and other departments.
• Maintains in-process, receiving and outgoing inspection systems, equipment, gages, records, and print files, in accordance with company Quality Assurance policies.
• Oversees and participates as the liaison with other departments regarding technical product changes and problems, required adjustments, future strategic objectives, etc.

Education, Training, Certifications

• 4-Year Degree in Engineering-related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• ASQC/CQE certifications required, CQM preferred

Experience

• Five to seven years of experience as a Quality Assurance Engineer or a Manufacturing Engineer with a Quality emphasis.
• Five to seven years of supervisory experience.
• Must have experience in the automotive industry. Tier 1 or Tier II level.
• Must have an in-depth knowledge of variation reduction practices including SPC, MSA and PFMEA fundamentals, standard quality “Core Tools” and practices.

Job Knowledge and Skills

• Software Skills:       Proficient in MS Access, MS Office, SAP
• Interpersonal Skills: Tact, logic and administrative ability
• Supervisory Skills;   Five to Seven years
• Contact with others: High degree of internal/external customer contact. Must be able to exercise diplomacy in dealing with and influencing individuals in all levels of authority.
• Resourcefulness and Initiative: Considerable judgement to work independently, confers with Director of Quality on regular basis

Accountability/Impact of Errors

• Accountability:  Directs and controls acceptance and rejection within company Quality Assurance policies of all purchased and fabricated parts through all operations until accepted into Finished Goods or scrapped
• Impact of Errors: Probably errors would be difficult to detect. May have an adverse effect on outside relationships. Work not subject to immediate review; work involves considerable accuracy and responsibility
• Confidential Data: Works with confidential data of major importance which, if improperly disclosed, may be detrimental to the company’s interests.

Working Conditions

• Primary location is corporate office with frequent use of computer & telephone. Standard office environment. Noise in the manufacturing environment is moderate. Must be able to travel both domestically and internationally. Travel to suppliers, Stabilus Germany headquarter and to other Stabilus centers of operation.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.