Quality Manager Portland, TN
Position Overview Our client, a high-volume automotive manufacturing organization, is seeking an experienced, hands-on Quality Manager to lead plant-wide quality operations. This leadership role takes full ownership of the quality department, managing both quality engineering and technician teams while directing customer-facing relationships and OEM escalations. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in metal stamping and robotic welding environments, with a proven ability to lead defect analysis, coordinate with tooling and maintenance teams, and transform an underperforming quality operation into a high-standard, proactive culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, develop, and mentor the plant quality department, including quality engineers and technicians, while cultivating future plant leaders.
- Oversee quality operations for high-volume metal stamping and robotic welding processes.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for customer and OEM quality communications, handling escalations, containment, and issue resolution.
- Lead comprehensive defect analysis and implement robust corrective and preventative action (CAPA) plans.
- Maintain compliance and required documentation for welding standards (AWS/ISO) and stamping process controls.
- Implement rigorous in-process inspection protocols and collaborate closely with tooling, die shop, and maintenance teams.
- Drive continuous process improvements to elevate quality standards and actively transform the plant's overall quality culture.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of quality management or quality leadership experience in automotive manufacturing.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience in metal stamping (or a closely related metalworking environment) and robotic welding quality oversight.
- Proven track record of managing customer and OEM relationships and successfully resolving customer quality escalations.
- Strong background in defect analysis, CAPA implementation, stamping controls, and weld standard compliance (AWS/ISO).
- Demonstrated experience leading, structuring, or turning around underperforming quality teams and driving cultural change across a manufacturing facility.
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