Quality Manager

The Company:
Kinter is a family business obsessed with making retail display hardware easier for our customers. We’ve been manufacturing and distributing retail display hardware for over 40 years. Our approach to business is simple — treat each other and our customers like family.

Summary:
The Quality Manager will be responsible for leading and overseeing quality functions, including management of the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), supervision of inbound and outbound quality audits, review and monitoring of regulatory and internal compliance, coordination of field surveying and testing activities, and strategic support of the Product Development department. This role will also be expected to develop, implement, and continuously improve quality standards, procedures, and metrics across the organization. T he pay range for this role is fixed at $75,000 to $95,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Candidates with strong, relevant experience may be offered salaries toward the higher end of the range, while those earlier in their careers can expect offers aligned with the entry level of the range.

Essential Functions:

• Drive PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) activities at Kinter's fulfillment center, including coordination of APQP, FMEA, Control Plans, and MSA documentation, assisting product development, sales, and warehouse receiving through the approval process.
• Establish and oversee incoming inspection procedures for shipments using AQL sampling standards (ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 or equivalent), coordinating with third-party inspection agencies as needed for pre-shipment inspections.
• Audit processes to ensure customers receive proper products, verifying alignment across purchase orders, product specifications, ERP data, and engineering drawings.
• Manage non-conforming material through a formal disposition process (use-as-is, rework, return-to-vendor, or scrap), ensuring proper documentation and traceability.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities for internal and customer-reported quality issues, and issue Supplier Corrective Action Requests when nonconformance originates with a vendor.
• Own and report key quality metrics. including defect PPM, first-pass yield, and customer complaint trends, to support Continuous Quality Improvement initiatives related to internal processes.
• Support Sales, Product Development & Operations with investigations into customer concerns, ensuring proper root-cause identification and conflict resolution.
• Take corrective action to resolve customer concerns, including verification that implemented fixes prevent recurrence.
• Create and update CAD drawings and maintain engineering change/revision control to keep documentation current and accurate.
• Monitor compliance with applicable regulatory and safety standards (e.g., CPSC, Prop 65, ASTM/BIFMA) relevant to product category.
• Assist with additional projects, tasks, and perform other duties as assigned.
• Maintain a professional, collaborative, and solution-oriented demeanor during all interactions with peers, management, and clients to foster a productive team environment.
• Receive constructive feedback professionally and openly, utilizing it as a tool for continuous personal development and performance improvement.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Time management skills with the proven ability to meet deadlines. 
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and drive root-cause investigations.
• Meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to identify discrepancies and maintain accuracy across large volumes of data or documentation. 
• Working knowledge of quality standards and methodologies (e.g., PPAP, AQL sampling, ISO 9001).

Preferred Education and Experience :

• Bachelor's degree required ; Engineering, Quality Management, or related field preferred.
• 3-5+ years of quality experience in manufacturing, distribution, or fulfillment.
• Experience with SolidWorks; AutoCAD a plus.
• Working knowledge of PPAP, APQP, FMEA, and AQL sampling standards.
• ASQ certification (CQE, CQM/OE, or CQA) or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt preferred.
• Experience with supplier corrective action processes (SCAR, 8D).
• Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP, NetSuite, or similar).

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly supervise 3+  Quality Control Associates

Physical Requirements:

• Standing for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to make repetitive movements, including moving of the wrists/and or fingers, bending, or squatting. 
• Adjusting or moving objects up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment:

• This position will work indoors in a temperature-controlled environment with periods in a warehouse with moderate noise-level.

Travel:

• None.

The Location:
Kinter is located on the outskirts of Waukegan, just minutes from Gurnee and Wadsworth. Office and warehouses are located off IL Route 41, which makes the commute easy from surrounding towns.

Why Join Our Team?

• Be part of a dedicated, family-owned business with a proven track record of success and a deep commitment to its employees.
• Enjoy generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Benefit from comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance—100% covered for the employee by Kinter, with no payroll deductions.
• Secure your future with our fully employer-funded pension plan (contributions start after 1 year, fully vested after 5 years, with no deductions from your paycheck).
• Unlock long-term growth potential and opportunities to advance within the company.