Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager

Position Summary

The Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for developing, maintaining, and improving the company's Quality Management System (QMS), achieving and maintaining ISO 9001 certification, and leading measurable continuous improvement initiatives. This role works cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Commercial, and executive management to ensure processes are controlled, performance is measured, and improvement actions are effectively implemented. This is an onsite, salaried exempt position based in our Franklin, KY facility.

Responsibilities:

1. ISO, QMS Documentation, Auditing & Corrective Action

• Lead achievement and ongoing maintenance of ISO 9001 certification, including certification, surveillance, recertification, and customer audits.
• Manage and continuously improve the QMS, including document and record control, policies, procedures, work instructions, forms, and required quality records.
• Work with department leaders to create, revise, approve, and maintain controlled procedures and work instructions that accurately reflect company processes and customer requirements.
• Develop and execute the internal audit program; document findings, assign actions, and verify effective closure.
• Manage internal and external Corrective Action Requests (CARs), nonconformances, preventive actions, and Opportunities for Improvement (OFIs), including root-cause analysis and effectiveness verification.
• Coordinate customer audits and quality visits with the Commercial team and ensure resulting findings and customer-specific requirements are properly addressed.
• Develop and maintain employee training and competency controls, including training requirements, matrices, records, and verification of required training.
• Coordinate QMS management reviews and maintain required documentation demonstrating system effectiveness and compliance.

2. Metrics, Reporting & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Develop and maintain meaningful KPIs, dashboards, and management reporting for quality and operational performance.
• Monitor trends including customer complaints, nonconformances, CARs, audit findings, scrap/rework, process performance, training compliance, preventive maintenance, and other key metrics.
• Establish measurable quality objectives and regularly communicate performance, risks, trends, and required actions to executive management.
• Coordinate with Operations to ensure processes are documented, controlled, consistently followed, and aligned with customer and QMS requirements.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to ensure an effective, documented, and measurable Preventive Maintenance program.
• Coordinate with the Commercial team to ensure quoting, order review, customer requirements, and other applicable commercial processes are documented and controlled.
• Lead cross-functional resolution of quality and process issues, establish accountability, and ensure assigned actions are completed effectively and on time.
• Serve as the primary quality resource for the organization while promoting company-wide ownership of quality and process performance.

3. Continuous Improvement

• Develop and manage a formal Continuous Improvement Program with defined objectives, priorities, ownership, and measurable results.
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities based on quality, safety, productivity, cost, downtime, customer requirements, and business impact.
• Lead or facilitate cross-functional improvement projects using appropriate Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, root-cause analysis, and other structured problem-solving methods.
• Establish baseline measurements and quantify operational and financial results from completed improvement initiatives.
• Track and report improvements in areas such as quality, scrap/rework, productivity, downtime, cycle time, on-time delivery, cost, and process efficiency.
• Promote employee participation and build a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Operations Management, or related discipline preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Experience managing or significantly supporting an ISO 9001 QMS required; experience leading initial certification or certification/recertification audits strongly preferred.
• Experience with internal auditing, document control, corrective action, root-cause analysis, employee training, and continuous improvement.
• Manufacturing, processing, aerospace, or similar industrial experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of Lean/Six Sigma and ISO 9001 auditing preferred; applicable auditor or Lean Six Sigma certifications are a plus.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, communication, and computer skills.

Benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Long Term Disability
• FSA/HSA plans
• Paid time off
• 401k

Pay range: $100,000-$120,000 per year, depending on experience.

EOE. No phone calls, please.