We have an immediate requirement with our client and your skills and expertise seem to perfectly match our client requirement. This is a Fulltime/Permanent Position.

Kindly review the job description below and send me your Updated Resume & Expected salary.

Title: Quality Assurance Manager

Location: Hybrid (Rogers, MN)

Duration: Fulltime/Permanent Position

NOTE:

Any independent visa is fine.

Candidate must be local to Minnesota.

The client industry is manufacturing & packaging.

It is an ISO certified plant so expertise will be needed.

Summary of Position

The Quality Assurance Manager responsibilities are:

• Ensure all quality processes follows the rules and standards determined by the Organization
• Develop processes and standards to secure a compliance with Regulatory, Quality Policies and Lean manufacturing principles
• Educate and coach to ensure that all employees are familiar with used frameworks
• The Quality Manager will be evaluated by his/her impact on Complaint Rate, First Pass Yield, ISO certification, 5S audit (% adherence to standard), Competence (% operators that have received basic Lean training), Productivity (kg per man hour) and ability to manage their team effectively for client sites.

Major Areas of Accountability

Quality Management and Leadership

Non-Conformance and CAPA Management

• Serve as primary responder for non-conformances, providing immediate assessment and triage
• Manage the Quality CAPA tracker, ensuring all entries are up-to-date and accurately reflect current status
• Assign investigations to appropriate departments based on expertise and workload
• Oversee CAPA communication process, facilitating cross-departmental collaboration
• Make informed decisions on which issues warrant formal CAPA processes, considering risk, frequency, and impact
• Provide guidance and support in prioritizing issues, balancing urgency with resource availability
• Conduct regular CAPA review meetings to ensure progress and effectiveness of actions

Complaint Handling

• Lead the complaint process ensuring consistency and efficiency
• Investigate customer complaints using advanced root cause analysis techniques (e.g., 5 Why, Fishbone diagrams)
• Implement and control corrective actions, collaborating with engineering, production, and other relevant departments
• Ensure customer communications are timely, accurate, and professional, adhering to company standards
• Develop and maintain a complaint tracking system to monitor trends and recurrence
• Conduct periodic reviews of complaint data to identify systemic issues or opportunities for improvement

Supplier Management

• Lead supplier performance evaluations, developing and implementing robust assessment criteria
• Handle claims against suppliers for non-conforming products or complaints, ensuring fair and timely resolution
• Conduct and analyze incoming inspection processes, adjusting sampling plans as needed
• Develop and maintain supplier scorecards to track performance over time
• Collaborate with procurement to establish quality requirements in supplier contracts
• Organize and lead supplier quality meetings to address ongoing issues and improvements

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Collect and compile statistical quality data from various sources (production, complaints, audits)
• Track and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Quality department, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Prepare and communicate quality assurance outcome reports to senior management and stakeholders
• Use advanced data analysis techniques to identify trends and predict potential quality issues
• Develop and maintain quality dashboards for real-time monitoring of critical metrics
• Conduct regular data integrity checks to ensure reliability of quality information

Continuous Improvement and Project Management

Process Improvement

• Drive Lean projects, focusing on waste reduction and efficiency improvements
• Conduct capacity and bottleneck calculations to optimize production flow
• Set up and manage Kaizen initiatives, encouraging employee participation at all levels
• Implement data infrastructure for Kaizen, including MDI boards, shift handover processes, and KPI reports
• Identify trends in issues that may indicate larger systemic problems, initiating proactive improvement projects
• Facilitate Kaizen events and workshops to address specific quality challenges

Safety and Standards

• Oversee 5S framework implementation, conducting regular audits and follow-ups
• Develop and update technical documentation and standards to reflect current best practices
• Write comprehensive reports and operator maintenance instructions, ensuring clarity and usability
• Collaborate with safety teams to integrate quality and safety initiatives
• Conduct regular safety walks to identify and address potential hazards

Project Leadership

• Support strategy creation, aligning quality initiatives with overall business objectives
• Manage quality-related projects, using formal project management methodologies
• Balance workload among team members, considering skills, experience, and development opportunities
• Develop project charters and timelines for major quality initiatives
• Conduct regular project status meetings and provide updates to stakeholders

ISO Compliance and Auditing

• Responsible for ISO implementation and maintenance, ensuring all processes meet current standards
• Plan and execute internal audits systematically, covering all relevant areas of the quality management system
• Serve as main contact for external audits, preparing documentation and coordinating site visits
• Follow up on actions from internal and external audit findings, ensuring timely closure
• Conduct gap analyses against ISO standards to identify areas for improvement
• Provide ISO awareness training to employees at all levels of the organization

People Development and Communication

• Identify Quality and Lean knowledge gaps through skills assessments and performance reviews
• Plan and execute competence development programs, tailoring training to individual and team needs
• Collaborate with line managers and supervisors on training initiatives, ensuring alignment with operational needs
• Provide hands-on training on issue identification, assessment, and resolution techniques
• Develop employees' skills in root cause analysis and problem-solving through mentoring and coaching
• Ensure clear communication channels for reporting issues, including formal and informal mechanisms
• Foster an open culture where employees feel comfortable raising concerns without fear of reprisal
• Conduct regular team meetings to share quality updates and recognize improvement efforts

Resource Allocation and Accountability

• Assign appropriate personnel and resources to address both formal CAPAs and less critical issues
• Hold team members accountable for addressing assigned issues and CAPAs through regular check-ins
• Ensure timely completion of corrective actions and follow-ups, escalating when necessary
• Develop and implement a system for tracking individual and team performance on quality metrics
• Recognize and reward employees who contribute significantly to quality improvements
• Manage the quality department budget, allocating resources effectively to support key initiatives

Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

• Track KPIs related to issue resolution and CAPA effectiveness, using statistical process control where appropriate
• Regularly review and refine issue tracking and CAPA processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness
• Implement preventive measures based on lessons learned from past issues and near-misses
• Conduct periodic benchmarking against industry standards to identify areas for improvement
• Develop and maintain a lesson learned database to prevent recurrence of past issues
• Facilitate cross-functional problem-solving sessions to address complex quality challenges

Position Requirements

• Bachelor in Production Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or equivalent work experience from similar positions at another production plant with 4+ years of related experience required
• Experience with ERP systems required
• Ability to work with high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Good interpersonal skills to communicate confidently with all levels of management
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving & creative thinking skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite