Quality Control & Process Manager

The Quality Control & Process Manager is responsible for building, implementing, and managing the company’s quality control system from the ground up. This position will establish the processes, procedures, documentation, inspection standards, and accountability necessary to create a consistent and effective quality system across the organization.

The position is responsible for developing and maintaining quality systems and processes that ensure incoming materials, fabricated parts, assembly operations, kitting processes, in-process manufacturing, and finished products meet company, customer, and applicable regulatory requirements.

The role oversees all quality control activities across manufacturing and shipping operations, including the development and implementation of QC processes for fabrication, assembly, kitting, and finished products. Responsibilities include documentation control, non-conformance management, root cause analysis, corrective and preventive action (CAPA), supplier quality, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate must be capable of taking ownership of the quality function and building a structured QC system where one does not currently exist. This includes assessing current practices, identifying gaps and documentation requirements, creating procedures and standards, implementing systems, training personnel, and ensuring consistent execution across departments.

The quality system should go beyond simply meeting minimum regulatory, customer, and industry requirements. Ensuring error free shipments is the baseline: the objective is to establish processes and standards that consistently deliver high-quality, reliable products. This may include standards for workmanship, appearance, fit, finish, consistency, and other aspects of overall product quality where appropriate.

The position requires strong attention to detail, analytical ability, technical and mechanical aptitude, and the ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Build the company’s QC system from the ground up, including processes, procedures, requirements, documentation, records, and accountability.
• Assess current manufacturing quality practices, identify gaps, and establish standardized quality processes.
• Document current manufacturing processes, workflows, and procedures.
• Develop, implement, and maintain QC processes for fabrication, assembly, kitting, in-process manufacturing, and finished products.
• Work with Manufacturing Engineering to help improve incoming inspection requirements, develop inspection standards, inspection points, acceptance criteria, and documentation requirements.
• Establish and maintain the in-process, and final inspection processes.
• Create and maintain quality control documentation, reports, procedures, work instructions, and standards across departments.
• Develop and maintain document control processes to ensure quality documentation is accurate, current, accessible, and properly controlled.
• Ensure compliance with internal quality standards, customer specifications, engineering requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Establish quality standards and processes that go beyond minimum regulatory and customer requirements, with a focus on efficiency, and overall product quality, consistency, and reliability.
• Establish appropriate standards for workmanship, appearance, fit, finish, and other quality characteristics not fully defined by drawings or specifications.
• Manage and maintain the company Quality Management System (QMS).
• Establish and maintain systems for tracking and analyzing quality performance and trends.
• Manage and maintain Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) and related documentation.
• Identify non-conformities, lead root cause analysis, and develop and implement corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans.
• Verify the effectiveness of corrective actions and ensure issues are properly closed.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Procurement, and other departments to identify and resolve quality issues.
• Develop processes for supplier quality, including vendor quality records, supplier performance monitoring, and supplier risk assessments.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, consistency, reliability, and product quality.
• Establish quality training requirements and train employees on applicable quality procedures and standards.
• Monitor adherence to established quality processes and address failures to follow required procedures.
• Develop quality metrics and reporting for management review.
• Support customer quality requirements, audits, investigations, and corrective actions as required.
• Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the quality system and identify opportunities for improvement.

Supervision Responsibilities

• Supervise Quality Control Technician(s).
• Train, develop, and provide direction to quality personnel.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for quality documentation activities.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Establish quality standards and processes that are consistently applied across all departments, with emphasis on fabrication, assembly, kitting, manufacturing, and shipping operations.
• Create a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Oversee identification, communication, investigation, and resolution of non-conformities across departments.
• Maintain transparency and consistent communication regarding quality issues, corrective actions, and quality performance.
• Ensure proper execution and maintenance of non-conformance and corrective action processes.
• Work directly with management and department leaders to identify systemic quality issues and implement sustainable solutions.
• Serve as the primary owner of the company’s quality control processes and QMS.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in quality control, quality assurance, and/or manufacturing quality, in a manufacturing or assembly environment.
• At least 2 years of experience in a quality management capacity.
• Demonstrated experience building, implementing, maintaining, or significantly improving a Quality Management System (QMS).
• Demonstrated experience developing quality control systems, processes, inspection procedures, and documentation from the ground up or within an environment requiring significant system development.
• Demonstrated experience developing or managing system to handle non-conformances, conducting root cause analysis, and implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, inspection methods, and quality control principles.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and other technical documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and enforce quality processes and standards.
• Strong technical and mechanical aptitude with an understanding of manufacturing processes.
• Excellent organizational and documentation skills, including experience with controlled documents, procedures, work instructions, and quality records.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across manufacturing, engineering, procurement, and management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, train, and hold quality personnel accountable for inspection and quality requirements.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience establishing a quality function or QC department in a manufacturing organization.
• Experience developing a QMS in an organization that previously lacked a formalized quality system.
• Familiarity with manufacturing quality standards such as ISO 9001:2015, IECEx/ATEX, or CSA.
• Experience with internal or external quality audits.
• Experience developing quality metrics, KPIs, and management reporting.
• Experience performing root cause analysis using methodologies such as 5 Whys, Fishbone, or other structured problem-solving techniques.
• Experience in fabrication, assembly, kitting, or industrial manufacturing environments.
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience.
• Experience with supplier quality management and supplier corrective actions.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (SAGE) and quality documentation within an ERP environment.

Key Expectation

• This is a build-and-own role, not a maintenance role. The successful candidate will be expected to evaluate the company’s existing quality practices, identify deficiencies, and build a comprehensive QC system from the ground up.
• The quality system should go beyond simply meeting minimum ISO, regulatory, engineering, or customer requirements. Compliance is the baseline; the objective is to establish processes and standards that consistently deliver high-quality, reliable products.
• The candidate must be capable of creating structure where processes are currently informal or inconsistent, establishing appropriate standards, implementing effective inspection and control processes, training personnel, and driving accountability throughout the organization.