Incoming Quality Manager

Incoming Quality Manager

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world together. At Ford, we're all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

As part of our Manufacturing team, you'll help build the world-class, state-of-the-art smart vehicles we're known for. In our plants around the world, we're constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. You'll get the satisfaction of making great products people use and love.

In this position... The Incoming Quality Manager is responsible for ensuring that all externally sourced components meet Ford's quality standards before entering production. The role is central to establishing a Zero-Defect Supplier Mindset, driving rapid containment actions, and maintaining uninterrupted, high-quality production flow. The manager will collaborate closely with the Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) team, Purchasing, Production, and supplier partners to protect the plant from defective material, reducing recurring issues, and elevate overall supplier performance. This role also provides leadership and direction to a team of salaried and hourly personnel within the Incoming Quality department.

Responsibilities

What you'll do...

Supplier Quality & Zero-Defect Culture Drive and embed a Zero-Defect mindset across all suppliers through coaching, audits, performance reviews, and escalation processes. Lead supplier quality improvement initiatives, ensuring alignment with corporate quality standards and customer expectations. Enforce robust supplier incoming inspection strategies, containment actions, and preventive systems to eliminate repeat issues. Support STA in new supplier onboarding, PPAP reviews, and supplier process validations.

Communicate delinquent QR2 notices to suppliers, and plant management.

Track supplier corrective actions within the QR2 system and verify parts in-plant meet customer requirements.

Work with VRT's and PVT members to initiate appropriate containment and corrective action while supplier does the same.

Review supplier 8D's and accept or reject based on content.

Plant Protection & Material Control Implement strong incoming inspection and verification processes to prevent defective parts from entering production. Coordinate immediate containment, cutoffs, and controlled shipping requirements when nonconformances are detected. Oversee disposition of nonconforming material and ensure proper segregation, documentation, and communication. Develop systems to ensure material traceability, fast problem identification, and rapid resolution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with STA, Purchasing, Production, Logistics, and Engineering to address supplier concerns and drive long-term corrective actions. Represent incoming quality in daily production meetings, problem-solving discussions, and plant leadership updates. Lead or support 8D, root cause analysis, and corrective / preventive action implementation with suppliers and internal teams.

Team Leadership Lead, mentor, and develop a team consisting of both salaried and hourly quality personnel. Delegate responsibilities effectively while ensuring alignment to department goals and plant priorities. Foster a culture of accountability, urgency, and continuous improvement within the team. Manage staffing levels, training plans, performance evaluations, and team development initiatives.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement Monitor supplier performance trends, incoming defect rates, and internal scrap metrics. Use data-driven insights to prioritize issues and drive sustainable improvements. Support development and refinement of incoming quality standards, work instructions, audit plans, and escalation protocols. Drive continuous improvement projects aligned with corporate quality goals and industry standards.

Qualifications

You'll have...

• Bachelor's Degree
• Ability to work any shift as well weekends
• Strong ability to interface with plant hourly, salaried personnel and plant management
• Strong ability to present in front of plant management
• Competent in the use of data for decision making
• Capable of assigning work to unionized hourly workforce and holding employees accountable for following processes pertaining to daily work assignments in terms safety, quality, and throughput
• Strong organizational and administrative skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Strong problem-solving and conflict management skills
• Proficient computer skills

Even better, you may have...

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like : will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builderor all the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including :

This position is in a salary grade LL6.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

Job Identification 54860

Job Category Quality

Posting Date 11 / 24 / 2025, 05 : 38 PM

Job Schedule Full time

Locations 12600 S Torrence Ave, Chicago, IL, 60633, US (On-site)

Remote No