Director of Quality

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Quality

Position Summary

The Director of Quality is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction for Advanced Quality Engineering (AQE), Quality Management Systems (QMS) ,Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS), warranty and service functions across Performance Seats facilities. This role is responsible for fostering a culture of quality, accountability, continuous improvement, and safety throughout the organization. The Director of Quality will partner closely with Plant Quality, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Program Management, and Sales to identify and mitigate risks, resolve quality issues, improve manufacturing performance, and drive customer satisfaction.

 

This position will provide leadership and oversight for internal and external audits, corrective and preventive actions, quality performance metrics, customer requirements, and EHS compliance while driving initiatives that strengthen operational performance and support the company's overall strategic objectives.

 

Key Responsibilities

Quality Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and implement the organization's quality strategy, objectives, and initiatives in alignment with business and customer requirements.
• Develop and monitor quality performance metrics, including FTQ, scrap, PPM, COPQ, customer complaints, OTD, LPA performance, and corrective action effectiveness.
• Review quality performance trends and establish action plans to address recurring or systemic issues.
• Ensure effective communication and consistency of quality practices.
• Track, monitor and drive actions based on warranty claims, service, and field repair data.
• Lead activity to support critical field services actions based on customer complaints and warranty.
• Provide feedback to product team based on findings from warranty, service, field repair and other customer feedback data.

Quality Management System

• Maintain overall ownership and accountability for the company's Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, applicable ISO standards, customer-specific requirements, and internal policies and procedures.
• Maintain and continuously improve quality policies, procedures, work instructions, forms, records, and other management system documentation.
• Ensure audit readiness across all applicable functions and facilities.
• Ensure timely closure and effectiveness of audit findings and corrective actions.
• Establish standardized quality processes and expectations across both facilities.
• Ensure employees are properly trained on applicable quality procedures and customer requirements.
• Maintain awareness of changes to automotive industry standards, customer requirements, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Customer Quality & Product Quality

• Support simultaneous development through advanced quality engineering activities.
• Develop strong relationships with customers and ensure customer expectations are understood and consistently met.
• Track and monitor customer complaints, quality alerts, containment activities, and corrective actions.
• Ensure 8-Ds and other customer corrective action responses are completed accurately and within required timelines.
• Monitor customer scorecards and quality performance indicators and develop improvement plans as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with customer-specific requirements and OEM supplier portal requirements.
• Ensure appropriate containment and escalation processes are followed when nonconforming product or significant quality concerns are identified.

Manufacturing Quality & Continuous Improvements

• Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering leadership to improve manufacturing processes, product quality, and overall plant performance.
• Lead structured problem-solving initiatives utilizing methodologies such as 5 Why, 8D, Ishikawa/Fishbone, FMEA, SPC, Six Sigma, and other appropriate quality tools.
• Ensure Control Plans, PFMEAs, Process Flow Diagrams, inspection plans, and related quality documentation are developed and maintained.
• Ensure Layered Process Audits (LPA) are being performed and ensure findings are effectively addressed.
• Ensure proper processes are being followed to monitor and reduce scrap, rework, defects, customer returns, and overall Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
• Ensure effective containment and material disposition processes are being followed.
• Ensure appropriate statistical tools and techniques are utilized to identify trends and prevent recurrence.
• Lead or support continuous improvement projects that improve quality, efficiency, cost, and customer satisfaction.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Requirements & Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in Quality within a manufacturing environment, preferably automotive.
• Previous management or leadership experience overseeing Quality personnel required.
• Experience managing Quality and/or QMS functions across multiple manufacturing facilities preferred.
• Automotive seating experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working directly with OEM customers and customer-specific requirements preferred.

Knowledge & Specialized Training

• Strong knowledge of IATF 16949 and automotive Quality Management Systems.
• Working knowledge of ISO 14001 and Environmental Management Systems.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA
• Strong knowledge of structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa, and root cause analysis.
• Knowledge of Six Sigma and statistical problem-solving techniques preferred.
• Understanding of automotive seating regulations and applicable legal requirements.
• Experience with customer portals and OEM quality requirements.
• IATF 16949 internal auditor certification required.
• ISO 14001 experience or certification required.
• EHS/OSHA training or certification required.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively lead teams across multiple facilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure and effectively manage quality escalations.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, employees, and executive leadership.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and automotive production environments.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience with PLEX ERP or similar manufacturing/QMS systems preferred.
• Ability to travel between Performance Seats facilities as required.

Physical & Work Environment

• Ability to work in a manufacturing and office environment.
• Regular presence on the manufacturing floor is required.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ability to work flexible hours when required to support customer concerns, production needs, audits, or significant quality/EHS events.
• Occasional travel between company facilities, customer locations, supplier locations, and other business-related destinations may be required 25-50% of the time.