Quality Assurance Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for leading quality achievement and ongoing and sustainable quality performance improvement for all business units (Schneller and Bruce) by using a Total Quality Management combined with Six Sigma approach. This position also fulfills the role of Management Representative under AS9100 requirements.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrates Company values and shares the organizational commitment to ensuring quality products and processes.
• Develops organizational and technical strategies, executes business plans, policies, and procedures that create a culture of quality orientation and drive continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Establishes, monitors, and ensures the maintenance of the Quality System (Business Management System - BMS) and communication of, and adherence to, quality goals and objectives throughout the organization.
• Manages a Quality staff (directly and indirectly) that is responsible for evaluating and ensuring that products and processes comply with customer contract requirements, engineering requirements, company procedures and regulatory requirements as applicable, root-cause problem solving, defining corrective actions, and implementing and identifying/establishing new technologies for monitoring and/or producing improved quality products.
• Develops and maintains staffing requirements and structure for the Quality Department including selection, training/cross training, ongoing performance management (including corrective action and termination of employment), performance appraisal process, and employee development and career progression; promotes employee engagement and satisfaction and leverages skills and abilities to achieve high performance.
• Through regular and collaborative interaction with sales, product development engineering, process engineering, manufacturing, and other departments establishes quality standards that meet or exceed customer expectations, and plans, administers, and approves procedures and work instructions for all quality assurance areas in accordance with the Quality System (BMS).
• Reviews and approves external/customer-provided quality specifications and ensures corresponding internal procedures are updated, communicated, and followed accordingly, as well as responding to any customer requests for related information.
• Develops, monitors, and evaluates quality metrics, including scrap (in detail by category, dollar value, percentage, etc.) and first-time quality, and takes action as needed to improve. Provides results via regular and ad hoc reporting to appropriate parties and uses/leads the use of statistical based metrics and approaches for quality improvements.
• Oversees control of non-conforming product processes: Non-Conforming Report (NCR – internal), Return Material Authorization (RMA – external/customer), ensuring timely resolution including root cause/corrective action to prevent recurrence, FAI Quality Coordinator, and Airbus Quality Liaison (or may serve in this role). Approval of RMAs for credit up to the specified limit of the Schneller process.
• Manages the Corrective Action Response (CAR) and preventive action programs.
• Manager of the Supplier Quality Program and Vendor Approval Process.
• Leads root-cause analysis projects using data-driven methodologies such as Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) or 8D, with urgency and bias for action toward time sensitive results. Application of technical tools appropriate for the various business units is required for problem solving (e.g. for polymer/chemistry analysis and characterization techniques; for electrical/mechanical appropriate testing techniques).
• Develops and maintains mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships with customers, suppliers, and regulatory agencies (such as FAA) as applicable to the quality assurance function to achieve customer satisfaction goals, and to ensure compliance and deliverables are met.
• Leads, directs, and manages all AS9100, ISO9001, customer audits, and other applicable quality requirements ensuring timely and sustainable closure of any findings. Performs internal and supplier/subcontractor quality audits as needed to prevent quality issues and assure product quality and adherence to customer requirements and internal policies.
• Ensures incoming through outgoing products meets testing requirements, while assuring that test methods are appropriate and are in compliance with customer and regulatory needs.
• Supports Business Unit Team structure through proactive collaboration and support of business goals, including participation as a Business Unit Team member or support of their staff in such roles, if requested/required.
• Through the Bruce Quality group, oversee the Bruce Aerospace FAA repair center and individuals who are authorized to write FAA 8130 tags. Ensure compliance with FAA guidelines.
• Travels as necessary overnight, both domestically and internationally to achieve business goals – including multi-site leadership – approximately 10-20%
• Performs additional assignments/projects as defined by the Vice President of Engineering & Quality.
• Responsible for management of the Final Inspection area of the plant.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 10 years’ experience in a manufacturing operation (with polymer/plastic-based products) in a quality assurance/control role with a minimum of 5 years’ management-level experience effectively managing AS9100, ISO9001, and another applicable quality systems, including managing performance development of a staff of professional engineers as well as technicians and operators.
• Successful experience with influencing/leading a culture toward quality orientation and continuous improvement.
• Proven success applying lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and formal analysis/problem-solving techniques.
• Experience designing, implementing, and conducting Internal and Supplier/Subcontractor quality audits.
• Must have experience (2 years) in using in a variety of analytical characterization techniques (e.g. optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence, particle size analysis, physical property testing) and the ability to understand analogous testing methods for electrical lighting based products for solving significant quality problems.
• Product quality management experience with polymer-based composition and demonstrated ability to manage electrical/mechanical engineered products.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum BS/BA degree in chemistry, polymer science, polymer Engineering or related field with significant knowledge in polymer materials-based products and the ability to understand manage quality of electrical/mechanical engineered products.
• In depth knowledge of Quality Management standards (e.g. AS9100 Rev D) and ability to effectively implement and maintain updates and revisions to standards.
• Ability to learn and apply knowledge of customer and regulatory requirements and new Company standards regarding the aviation and rail industries. Must have solid technical knowledge of products, processes and tools, such as formal root-cause analysis methods and corrective action systems (e.g. DMAIC, 8D, chemical analytical techniques for problem solving) to lead change with a collaborative and engaging approach that focuses on continuous improvement and sustainable change in quality; must have the skills to facilitate and lead quality improvement projects and workshops.
• Demonstrated expert in root-cause analysis using technical data, data mining, that lead to systematic and timely problem-solving approach(es); effective change management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage performance, professionally develop, leverage skills/abilities, and create high-performance with a group of engineers, technicians, and operators, including medium to large groups in multiple sites.
• Must have excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills (collaboration, adaptability) to be able to convey position and drive change and improvement through influence throughout the organization and with customers and suppliers.
• Must have the ability to effectively manage competing priorities/activities and address issues of various types in a clear and timely manner to ensure prompt and sustainable resolution. This includes being a successful project and project portfolio manager.
• Must be highly functional in Microsoft Office and related software, SharePoint (or similar), ability to learn Microsoft Project, ERP software (Syteline preferred), and any other computer based/operated systems/equipment as needed.
• Ability to act as Schneller Certified Color Analyst: Individual has received training and is certified in Color Measurement and routinely records color measurements.
• Ability to act as Schneller Certified Color Inspector. Certified to approve color based on knowledge of the Schneller color specifications measured in with the guidelines set forth in BMS. This individual has the authority to approve color and certification is mandatory for the position.
• To conform with US export regulations and ITAR 120.15 and EAR Part 772, incumbents for this role must be eligible for any required authorizations from the US government.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to perform the following physical demands with or without accommodation:

• Position may require person to sit at a desk for up to 8 hours, constantly performing repetitive motions to use a personal computer and other office equipment, as well as walking around an office and industrial environment.
• Position requires annual eye examination with written documentation of adequate vision to detect minute flaws in material with or without corrective lenses, including successful completion of Farnsworth Munsell Color Vision Testing.
• Ability to stand in place on an occasional basis in a production environment to observe processes
• Sitting – C, Standing – O, Walking – F, Lifting up to 50 lbs – I, Bending – O, Climbing – O, Fine Motor Skills – F
• Ability to perform physical activities related to traveling, such as driving, moving throughout airports, flying – domestic and international travel approximately 10-20%

• 
  Based on an 8-hour Day

Infrequently (I) 1-5%

Occasionally (O) 6-33%

Frequently (F) 34-66%

Constantly (C) 67-100%

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work required by the position. They are not to be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. All employees holding this position may be required to perform responsibilities outside of those listed from time-to-time based on business circumstances.

Schneller is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.