Quality Manager

The Quality Manager leads Hernon's Quality Management System and is responsible for ensuring product quality, customer satisfaction, ISO 9001 compliance, and the continued development of effective quality processes across the organization. This is a hands‑on management role in a small manufacturing organization. The Quality Manager is expected to work directly with Production, Engineering, Laboratory, Purchasing, and Commercial teams to investigate quality issues, resolve problems, support inspections, manage corrective actions, and maintain day‑to‑day quality operations. The Quality Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining quality systems, process controls, and organizational practices that prevent defects, strengthen process ownership, and ensure consistent product and process performance. The role leads and develops the Quality team while providing senior management with clear visibility of quality performance, compliance obligations, systemic risks, and significant open actions. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Position Summary The Quality Manager leads Hernon's Quality Management System and is responsible for ensuring product quality, customer satisfaction, ISO 9001 compliance, and the continued development of effective quality processes across the organization. This is a hands‑on management role in a small manufacturing organization. The Quality Manager is expected to work directly with Production, Engineering, Laboratory, Purchasing, and Commercial teams to investigate quality issues, resolve problems, support inspections, manage corrective actions, and maintain day‑to‑day quality operations. The Quality Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining quality systems, process controls, and organizational practices that prevent defects, strengthen process ownership, and ensure consistent product and process performance. The role leads and develops the Quality team while providing senior management with clear visibility of quality performance, compliance obligations, systemic risks, and significant open actions. Quality Management System Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve Hernon's Quality Management System in accordance with ISO 9001 and applicable customer requirements. Manage internal audits, management reviews, document and record controls, quality objectives, and other required QMS activities. Coordinate and lead external certification, surveillance, customer, and other applicable quality audits, including preparation, on‑site support, response to findings, and follow‑up actions. Maintain ongoing audit readiness and ensure audit findings and required corrective actions are addressed in a timely manner. Identify significant quality‑system risks or overdue actions and ensure they are addressed or escalated appropriately. Quality Operations and Process Control Provide hands‑on support for complex or critical inspections, nonconforming material evaluations, investigations, and product‑conformity decisions as needed. Establish appropriate receiving, in‑process, and final inspection requirements based on product risk, supplier performance, process capability, and customer requirements. Work with process owners to establish effective controls that prevent defects and improve process performance. Maintain an effective calibration and measurement‑equipment control program, ensuring applicable instruments and measuring devices are properly controlled and calibrated. Problem Solving, Corrective Action, and Customer Quality Manage customer quality complaints from containment through investigation, corrective action, response, and closure. Lead structured root‑cause investigations using established problem‑solving methods such as 5 Why, 8D/8‑Step, and other appropriate tools. Ensure corrective actions address root causes, are completed on time, and are verified for effectiveness where appropriate. Facilitate cross‑functional investigations and identify recurring or systemic quality issues. Leadership and Cross‑Functional Quality Lead, coach, and develop Quality personnel while maintaining effective day‑to‑day Quality coverage. Establish clear priorities, responsibilities, and expectations within the Quality function. Delegate responsibilities and develop team members’ technical and quality‑system capabilities. Train and coach employees on quality requirements, procedures, and problem‑solving practices. Promote accountability for quality within the functions responsible for executing the processes. Supplier Quality Work with Purchasing and technical functions to establish quality requirements for raw materials, components, and suppliers. Support supplier qualification and monitor supplier quality performance. Lead or support supplier corrective actions and follow through to appropriate closure. Establish and maintain risk‑based receiving inspection requirements. Quality Performance and Continuous Improvement Develop and monitor meaningful quality performance indicators and trends. Provide management with visibility of significant customer complaints, corrective actions, supplier issues, audit findings, nonconformances, and quality risks. Identify recurring problems and opportunities for systemic improvement. Apply appropriate quality, statistical, and continuous‑improvement methods to improve process effectiveness, reduce defects, and prevent recurrence. Department Management and Documentation Maintain appropriate quality procedures, standards, forms, inspection instructions, records, and controlled documentation. Manage Quality department workload, priorities, resources, approved projects, and departmental budget, including planning for quality‑related equipment and resource needs. Ensure Quality records are accurate, current, properly controlled, and readily retrievable. Perform other quality‑related responsibilities necessary to support company operations and customers. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience. Minimum of 8 years of progressive quality experience in a manufacturing environment. Prior Quality management, supervisory, or equivalent leadership experience. Demonstrated hands‑on experience with an ISO 9001 Quality Management System, including audits, corrective actions, document control, and management review. Experience investigating manufacturing quality problems and leading root‑cause and corrective‑action activities. Experience with customer complaints, supplier quality, inspection, and product‑conformity requirements. Demonstrated ability to lead and develop employees in a hands‑on working environment. Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functions and influence others without direct authority. Strong analytical, problem‑solving, organizational, and communication skills. Ability and willingness to work directly in manufacturing areas and personally perform quality activities when required. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business software. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience in chemical, adhesives, coatings, or other process‑manufacturing environments. Experience with industrial equipment, machinery, assembly, or other discrete manufacturing environments. Experience working in a small or mid‑sized manufacturing company. ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification or equivalent audit experience. ASQ CQE, CMQ/OE, or similar professional quality certification. Practical experience with Lean, Six Sigma, statistical process control, or similar continuous‑improvement methods. #J-18808-Ljbffr Hernon