Quality Manager

ADP Special Products Ltd; Witham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Life Insurance

Free on-site parking

Job summary

TECNIQ are a creative, technology-driven design, engineering, and manufacturing business delivering vehicle structures and interior trim for premium automotive brands. The Quality Manager – Series Production will lead quality across the low-volume, high-value production, driving right‑first‑time manufacturing and robust controls from incoming materials to final delivery.

You will partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality Systems, Procurement and Supply Chain to maintain quality

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Quality Management or Quality Engineering in automotive manufacturing.
• Experience managing quality within series production and understanding of production quality controls.
• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality or related discipline desired.
• Strong knowledge of IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, Control Plans, and Process Flow.
• Experience handling customer quality issues with structured problem solving.
• Experience with 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa, containment, corrective action, and root cause analysis.
• Data-driven approach to quality improvements and KPIs.
• Collaborates with Manufacturing and Engineering to reduce defects and rework.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the quality function within series production, ensuring consistent quality standards.
• Establish production quality controls to meet customer specs and internal standards.
• Monitor daily quality performance across manufacturing and identify improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain Quality documentation (PFMEA, Control Plans, Work Instructions).
• Lead investigations of internal, customer, and supplier quality issues using structured methods.
• Drive root cause analysis (8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa) and implement effective CAPAs.
• Improve first-time quality, reduce scrap/rework, and manage customer complaints.
• Ensure containment, fast response, proper disposition of suspect product.
• Work with Manufacturing/Engineering on process improvements and NPI transitions.

Skills

Quality leadership

Problem solving

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Communication

Leadership & people management

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

IATF 16949 Internal Auditor / Lead Auditor (desirable)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Quality Manager – Series Production to lead and manage quality activities across series production within a fast-paced, low-volume automotive manufacturing environment.

The role is responsible for ensuring that products and manufacturing processes consistently meet customer, regulatory, and internal quality requirements, while driving improvements in quality performance, reducing defects, and maintaining high standards throughout production.

Working closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality Systems, Procurement, and Supply Chain, the Quality Manager will provide strong operational quality leadership, ensuring that robust quality controls are established and maintained from incoming materials through to final product delivery.

The successful candidate will be a hands‑on quality professional with strong automotive manufacturing experience, capable of analysing quality performance, leading structured problem solving, managing customer and supplier issues, and developing a strong culture of right‑first‑time manufacturing.

About TECNIQ

TECNIQ are a creative, technology-driven design, engineering, and manufacturing business.

We develop and produce vehicle body structures and interior trim for the exclusive, high-value automotive sector. We are partners on premium, low-volume programmes for luxury global automotive brands such as Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, Ford GT, Aston Martin, Pininfarina, Gordon Murray and many more on such vehicles as, amongst others, the Mercedes AMG-ONE, Pininfarina’s Battista and Aston Martin’s Valkyrie Pro.

We deliver all aspects of design, engineering, testing and manufacture from a single facility. This vertical integration represents considerable supply chain benefits to our customers and a broad working environment for our teams.

In addition we deliver full vehicle development, including chassis and powertrain, to high net-worth heritage racers via our heritage racing division, ADP Classic Racing. We restore and rebuild high‑end classic racing cars, prepare drivers, manage a programme of touring and racing, and provide full event support.

• Lead and manage the quality function within series production, ensuring consistent application of quality standards, processes, and controls.
• Establish and maintain effective production quality controls to ensure products meet customer specifications and agreed quality standards.
• Monitor daily quality performance across manufacturing, identifying issues, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and maintain appropriate Control Plans, Inspection Standards, Work Instructions, and quality documentation.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of internal, customer, and supplier quality issues using structured problem‑solving methodologies.
• Lead 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa, and other root cause analysis activities, ensuring robust corrective and preventive actions are implemented and verified for effectiveness.
• Drive improvements in first‑time‑through, right‑first‑time, scrap, rework, defects, customer complaints, and warranty‑related quality performance.
• Ensure effective containment of quality issues, including rapid response, segregation, inspection, and controlled release of suspect product.
• Manage customer quality concerns and ensure timely and effective responses to customer complaints and quality issues.
• Work closely with Manufacturing and Engineering to identify process weaknesses and implement sustainable improvements.
• Lead the development and maintenance of PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Flow Diagrams, and other APQP documentation.
• Ensure that process changes are appropriately risk assessed and that quality controls are updated accordingly.
• Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) and transition of products from development into stable series production.
• Monitor and manage supplier quality performance, working with Procurement and suppliers to resolve incoming material and component quality issues.
• Lead supplier audits and improvement activities where required.
• Establish and monitor key quality performance indicators (KPIs), providing regular reporting and improvement plans to management.
• Lead and participate in internal, customer, supplier, and certification audits as required.
• Ensure non‑conforming product is effectively controlled and that appropriate disposition decisions are made in accordance with company procedures.
• Ensure measuring, inspection, and test equipment is appropriately controlled and maintained, including calibration requirements.
• Promote a zero‑defect and right‑first‑time culture throughout the manufacturing operation.
• Coach and develop members of the Quality team, supporting individual performance and technical development.
• Ensure quality procedures and standards are understood and consistently applied across production.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities using Lean, Six Sigma, and other structured improvement methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, customer‑specific requirements, regulatory requirements, and internal quality standards.
• Maintain effective communication with senior management regarding quality performance, significant risks, customer issues, and improvement activities.
• Travel occasionally to suppliers, customers, or other external locations where required.

Skills Experience and Education

• Proven experience in a Quality Management or Quality Engineering role within automotive manufacturing, preferably within a low-volume, high-value or technically complex production environment.
• Strong experience of managing quality within series production and a demonstrable understanding of production quality controls.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related discipline is desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, Control Plans, and Process Flow.
• Experience managing customer quality issues and responding to customer complaints using structured problem‑solving methodologies.
• Strong practical experience with 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa, containment, corrective action, and root cause analysis.
• Experience analysing quality data and using KPIs to identify trends and drive measurable improvements.
• Experience working closely with Manufacturing and Engineering to improve production processes and reduce defects, scrap, and rework.
• Experience managing or leading supplier quality activities and resolving supplier‑related quality issues.
• Experience leading NPI, product launch, and production ramp‑up activities.
• Experience conducting and leading internal, customer, supplier, and certification audits.
• Strong understanding of non‑conforming product control and material disposition processes.
• Knowledge of carbon fibre component manufacturing, composite processes, and automotive painting processes is desirable.
• Experience within a low-volume, high‑pressure manufacturing environment is desirable.
• Strong understanding of statistical quality techniques and process capabilities.
• IATF 16949 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor qualification is desirable.
• Six Sigma, Lean, or equivalent continuous improvement qualification is desirable.
• Strong leadership and people‑management skills, with the ability to develop and motivate a Quality team.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills, with the confidence to challenge processes and decisions constructively.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability, with a practical and data‑driven approach.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple quality issues and priorities within a demanding production environment.
• Proactive and hands‑on approach, with the ability to work effectively on the shop floor as well as at a strategic level.
• Ability to build effective relationships across Manufacturing, Engineering, Procurement, Supply Chain, and senior management.
• Strong commitment to customer satisfaction, product quality, and continuous improvement.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to suppliers, customers, or external locations where required.

Additional Expectations

The role requires a flexible approach, with the ability to adapt to business needs. While the key responsibilities cover the main duties of the role, additional tasks aligned with the general scope and level of responsibility may be required.

circa. £60,000 - £70,000 per annum subject to skills and experience

Additional Information

• Holiday allowance: 20 days plus bank holidays
• Life Insurance (3x salary)
• Free on‑site parking

As an equal opportunities employer, TECNIQ is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join TECNIQ.

Due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback or respond to every applicant.

Role Summary

Quality Manager

Salary: £60k - £70k subject to skills & experience
Hours: Mon-Fri, 08:00 - 16:30
Location: Witham, Essex