Quality Plant Manager

The Quality Plant Manager is responsible for leading the quality organization within a manufacturing plant, ensuring that all products meet customer, regulatory, and corporate quality standards. This role owns the plant's quality strategy across all the departments, drives continuous improvement, and serves as the senior quality leader accountable for defect prevention, containment, and customer satisfaction outcomes at the site level.

What you’ll do:

• Develop and execute the plant-level quality management strategy aligned with corporate quality objectives, launch requirements, and customer expectations.
• Lead, coach, and develop a multi-shift team of quality engineers, supervisors, and inspectors; build succession plans and talent pipelines within the department.
• Own the plant's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and applicable Ford Global Quality Standards.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone) for quality escapes, warranty issues, and internal defects; implement robust containment and error-proofing systems.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Program teams, and Suppliers to ensure new model launches meet quality gate requirements and Job 1 readiness criteria.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality Engineering to resolve incoming material issues and drive supplier corrective actions impacting plant performance.
• Own plant quality KPIs (e.g., Things Gone Wrong, FTQ/FTC, PPM, Customer Satisfaction, Warranty Cost per Unit) and report performance to plant leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Lead Lean/Six Sigma initiatives to reduce variation, cost of poor quality, and cycle time while improving overall process capability.
• Ensure readiness for internal, corporate, and third-party audits; maintain compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory quality requirements.
• Act as the primary quality interface with Manufacturing, Engineering, Purchasing, and Customer Service teams, ensuring alignment on quality priorities.
• Manage the department's operating budget, including headcount, capital equipment, and quality tooling investments.
• Lead containment and resolution efforts for field quality issues, stop-ship decisions, and customer escalations.
• Maintain a regular plant floor presence across shifts and provide off-hours support during launches or critical quality events.
  

How you’ll measure success:

• Achievement of plant quality escape rate and PPM targets.
• Consistent delivery of First Time Quality (FTQ) / First Time Capability (FTC) metrics.
• Develop and maintain the FRC Strategy and actions between all departments to deliver the FRC for the Total Plant in line with the agreed Glidepath and targets.
• Reduction and sustained improvement in warranty cost per unit.
• High customer satisfaction and quality index scores.
• Successful audit compliance results (both internal and external).
• High corrective action closure rates and demonstrated effectiveness.
• Strong knowledge of quality tools: FMEA, SPC, MSA, PPAP, APQP, and Control Plans.
• Deep understanding of IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and OEM-specific quality systems.
• Data analysis and statistical proficiency (using Minitab or similar tools).
• Familiarity with digital quality/manufacturing systems, including MES, quality dashboards, and traceability systems.
• Proven ability to lead through multiple layers of management and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking balanced with hands-on plant floor engagement.
• Exceptional communication skills, capable of presenting to executive leadership and customers.
• Change management and organizational development capability.
• Crisis management composure under high-pressure, high-visibility situations.
• Strong talent development track record, building bench strength for future leaders.
  

Your background:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or a related field required.
• Master's degree (MBA or Engineering) advantage.
• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing quality, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership/managerial role.
• Prior experience in automotive manufacturing or a comparable high-volume, regulated manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing plant-level quality organizations and leading through direct reports/managers.
• Certifications (preferred): Six Sigma Black Belt / Lean Manufacturing certification, ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CQM) or Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), and IATF 16949 Lead Auditor certification.