Quality manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Summary

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented automotive industry Quality Manager to oversee our quality assurance. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in quality management systems, automotive industry standards, and a keen ability to lead teams to meet and exceed product quality goals. The Quality Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of internal and external quality to ensure our products meet the highest automotive quality standards. The Quality Manager will achieve this by developing and continuously improving automotive centric quality management systems, ensuring that all internal and external processes meet the company’s quality / product standards and performance requirements, and being the champion of quality assurance.

Essential Duties and Position Responsibilities

• Leadership : Lead a team of quality engineers, inspectors, technicians. Provide guidance and training to ensure quality standards are consistently met across all production lines.
• Training & Development : Lead training initiatives to ensure employees are knowledgeable about quality standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Quality / Environmental Systems Management : Develop, implement, and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) and Environmental Management System in compliance with automotive industry standards (e.g., IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001)
• Product Inspection : Oversee the inspection of all incoming materials, components, and finished products to ensure compliance with quality specifications.
• APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) : Lead and manage the APQP process for new product launches, ensuring all stages are properly executed and documented. Collaborate with cross-functional teams (new part launch (NPL), engineering, production, and suppliers) to develop and execute quality plans, risk assessments (e.g., FMEA), and control plans. Ensure that all APQP deliverables (DFMEA, PFMEA, control plans, PPAP, etc.) are completed on time and meet customer requirements. Monitor and report progress throughout the APQP process, addressing any challenges or deviations that arise.
• Supplier Quality Management : Collaborate with suppliers to ensure that incoming materials meet quality standards. Manage supplier performance to mitigate risks through scorecards, corrective action verification and layered process audits.
• Quality Issue Resolution :   Responsible for addressing customer complaints and resolving issues promptly. Investigate and resolve customer, supplier, and process related quality issues, including non-conforming materials or components. Implement root cause analysis and corrective / preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
• Collaborate with Suppliers : Work closely with suppliers to understand their processes and capabilities. Assist in process improvements and ensure they comply with quality and regulatory requirements.
• Continuous Improvement : Lead continuous improvement initiatives, promoting Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement to reduce defects and improve efficiency. Lead and manage root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Material and Process Qualification : Support new product launch (NPL) by qualifying supplier materials, processes, and parts. Ensure customer receive all required documentation, such as PPAPs (Production Part Approval Process) that are complete and accurate.
• Risk Management : Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier and internal quality, including assessing potential risks in the supply chain and implementing strategies to address them.
• Documentation and Reporting : Maintain accurate and detailed quality records, including customer complaints, supplier assessments, external and internal audits, and performance data. Prepare regular reports on supplier and internal process quality for management review.
• Cross-functional Collaboration : Work closely with engineering, NPL, purchasing, production, and quality teams to ensure alignment with company objectives and project requirements.
• All other duties as assigned to meet current business needs

Required Attributes

Required Knowledge

Required Skills

Required Abilities

Work Relationships

Travel Requirements

Education and Experience

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

Preferred Requirements