Quality Assurance Manager

Summary: Responsible for developing and implementing procedures for inspecting, testing and evaluating the quality of products in accordance with customer and company standards. Leads company-wide efforts to ensure quality compliance and adherence to ISO standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Leads efforts to improve quality by reviewing quality trends to prevent or reduce defects, determining root cause, initiating actions to correct them and convincing others of the validity of potential solutions.

• Implements best practices to inspect, test and evaluate products and production equipment.
• Ensures that our team is improving finished products that adhere to our customer's quality standards.
• Prepares reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing data.
• Trains team members in quality assessment practices of finished products.
• Ensures best practices are used to maintain traceability to guarantee that each part of the process is correct and provides technical assistance as needed to support the customer claims process.
• Ensures that detailed and recorded inspections of finished products are completed to ensure products are up to customer and company standards.
• Leads and coordinates the Laboratory Technician staff to meet the operational needs for performing physical testing producing certification documents for Skana products.
• Manages a team that provides timely analysis & reporting of coolants/mixes, verification analysis of incoming lubricants and to maintain optimal levels of coolant.
• Provides support and coordination of initiatives in assigned Rolling Mill work stations. Maintaining inventory of oils, additives, and filter medias. Communication with vendors & salesman for current and future needs and trials.
• Leads teams focused on initiating and refining practices that improve overall quality and lessen internal rejects.
• Passionately looks to continuous improvement methods as a means to improve quality and operational performance.
• Monitors and maintains the system requirements for ISO 9001 certification including: coordinating and conducting internal audits, communicating with registrar and coordinating registrar audits and coordinating corrective actions in response to internal and registrar non-conformances and system weaknesses.
• Provides training and assistance to all departments and hourly personnel on company policies, procedures, and work instructions.

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Inspires respect and trust; Accepts feedback from others; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates; Gives appropriate recognition to others; Displays passion and optimism; Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision.
• Business Acumen - Possesses an entrepreneurial style, vision and energy to help grow the company. Understands business implications of decisions; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.
• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Team Work - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed; Recognizes accomplishments of other team members.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. Previous experience with ISO 9001 essential.

Qualifications:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Four-year college or university program in Engineering, Quality, Metallurgy or a related field of study and ten or more years of related multi-faceted experience and/or training in an industrial laboratory (preferably in the Aluminum Industry) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expertise in ISO 9001, Quality Systems, Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement and Process Optimization.

Language Ability:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, blueprints or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Math Ability:

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite software (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook). Previous experience working with manufacturing / operations software preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Manages a total of 8 - 10 employees in the Quality Laboratory and Annealing Departments. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; risk of electrical shock and vibration.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, however, in manufacturing areas, the noise level requires hearing protection.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and sit.

Skana is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all qualified applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identification, sexual orientation and/or expression or any other characteristic protected by law in every location in which we have facilities national or local.