Quality Manager | Automotive Manufacturing

Automotive Quality Manager

Location: Columbus, Indiana Area (Onsite)

Employment Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time | Salaried | Exempt

Job Summary:

MS Companies is partnering with a well-established automotive supplier in the Columbus, Indiana area to identify an experienced Automotive Quality Manager for a full-time, direct-hire leadership opportunity. This individual will serve as the site quality leader, overseeing customer quality, supplier quality, production quality, quality systems compliance, corrective actions, auditing activities, calibration programs, and continuous improvement initiatives. The position will play a critical role in maintaining quality standards, driving operational excellence, and supporting both customer and supplier relationships within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong automotive manufacturing background, experience leading quality teams, and demonstrated success maintaining IATF 16949 quality systems while partnering with production, engineering, suppliers, and customers to improve overall plant performance.

Required Skills & Qualifications

● Automotive manufacturing experience

● Previous Quality Manager, Senior Quality Engineer, Supplier Quality Manager, Customer Quality Manager, or Quality Leadership experience

● Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949 quality systems

● Experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and other Automotive Core Quality Tools

● Experience managing customer quality concerns and supplier quality performance

● Demonstrated success leading corrective action investigations utilizing 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, or similar methodologies

● Experience conducting internal audits, process audits, and quality system audits

● Strong blueprint reading, problem-solving, and mechanical aptitude

● Ability to lead, mentor, and develop quality personnel

● Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

● Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related discipline

● IATF 16949 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor experience

● Experience maintaining IATF 16949 certification requirements

● Previous Quality Manager experience within an automotive supplier environment

● Experience supporting OEM and Tier 1 automotive customers

● Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement experience

● Six Sigma certification or formal problem-solving training

● Experience supporting new product launches, APQP activities, and production readiness reviews

● Experience managing calibration systems and quality documentation programs

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

● Lead all plant-level quality activities involving customer quality, supplier quality, production quality, and quality systems compliance

● Maintain compliance with IATF 16949 standards and internal quality management systems

● Oversee customer concerns, warranty issues, corrective actions, and quality performance metrics

● Manage supplier quality activities including audits, corrective actions, PPAP reviews, and supplier performance improvement initiatives

● Supervise quality inspectors, technicians, engineers, and related quality personnel

● Maintain calibration programs and quality documentation systems

● Review and disposition nonconforming materials and products while driving containment and corrective actions

● Support new product launches, APQP activities, process validation efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives

● Analyze quality data, identify trends, and implement process improvements to reduce defects and improve customer satisfaction

● Partner closely with production, engineering, maintenance, suppliers, and customers to drive quality excellence throughout the facility

Physical & Environmental Requirements

Physical expectations and working conditions associated with the position may include:

● Working within both manufacturing and office environments

● Standing, walking, and moving throughout the production facility as needed

● Frequent use of computers, reporting systems, and quality documentation tools

● Occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds

● Occasional travel to customer and supplier locations for audits, inspections, meetings, and quality-related activities

Why Consider This Opportunity?

● Join a well-established automotive supplier supporting industry-leading customers

● Lead quality operations at the plant level with direct impact on business performance

● Opportunity to influence customer quality, supplier quality, production quality, and continuous improvement initiatives

● Collaborative leadership environment with visibility across manufacturing, engineering, and operations

● Long-term career growth potential within a stable and growing manufacturing organization

Interested?

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply directly or contact Martin Weiss with MS Companies for confidential consideration.

• Martin Weiss, Account Recruiting Manager, View email address on click.appcast.io