Quality Manager – Manufacturing

Description

QUALITY MANAGER

COMPANY DESCRIPTION, PROFILE AND SCOPE OF ROLE

Our client is a premier UK manufacturer and market leader with over 70 years of heritage in precision engineering and high–specification component production. Part of a major global industrial group, their Sunderland facility combines a value–driven culture with significant investment in technology to serve world–class OEMs.

Due to continued growth and a strategic restructure, they are seeking an experienced Quality Manager to serve as the quality lead for their Sunderland site. This role offers a unique opportunity to join a high–performing team, applying the principles of TQM and continuous improvement to drive site performance and safeguard customer standards. Reporting to the Operations Director with a functional line to the UK Quality Director, you will manage the site–specific quality assurance function, lead daily cross–functional alignment, and act as a key partner to the site management team.

The ideal candidate will possess robust quality management experience gained within a manufacturing or engineering environment, combined with strong leadership capabilities and a proven track record of managing customer and supplier quality relationships.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead daily morning alignment meetings with Production, Health & Safety, Maintenance, Purchasing, and Planning to drive continuous improvement. Directly supervise, mentor, and conduct annual assessments for a small site quality team consisting of a Quality Engineer, Quality Technician, and Metrology Technician. Ensure only products conforming to specifications are manufactured; hold full authority to stop production and/or shipments if a customer risk is identified. Analyse customer warranty claims and returned products, implementing robust containment and permanent corrective actions (PCA) / resolutions, using the 8D model. Partner with project leaders to contribute to quality implementation during the production launch phase (NPI) and guarantee standards during manufacturing start–up. Monitor plant performance by gathering qualitative data, preparing KPIs, and generating comprehensive monthly quality reports. Financial & Process Optimization: Partner with purchasing to manage the supplier quality portal and develop targeted changes that actively reduce the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ). QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

Minimum of an HND in an Engineering or Manufacturing discipline (or equivalent). Proven experience in a Manufacturing or Engineering environment (Automotive or high–specification non–automotive). Must possess management, leadership, or supervisory experience with the ability to support cultural change and encourage proactive problem–solving. A strong working knowledge and understanding of quality requirements for an ISO 9001 certified organization (a certified Quality Auditing training certificate is highly desirable). Proficient in the application of Quality Core Tools and advanced problem–solving frameworks. Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, analytical with data, a confident communicator able to host customer visits, and comfortable working in a fast–paced plant environment.

Ad ID: 5418415167