Quality Assurance Manager

DECKED LLC; Brunersburg (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401k with match

Paid parental leave

Wellness program

Vacation

Free coffee

Job summary

DECKED LLC is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead plant-wide quality across assembly, coating, and finish operations in Ohio. You will establish control plans, validate processes, and drive rapid containment using 8D/5-Why methods to improve First-Pass Yield.

You will mentor QA teams, ensure QMS compliance, coordinate calibration, and collaborate with engineering and operations to minimize defects and supplier issues while maintaining a zero-defect culture on all shifts.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in Engineering, Quality Management, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of QA leadership experience in automotive, composite, fiberglass, or heavy manufacturing environments.
• Deep understanding of quality core tools (APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC).
• Professional quality certification strongly preferred (e.g., ASQ CQE/CQM, Six Sigma).
• Experience with ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 standards.
• Proficiency with statistical software (Minitab/JMP) for Gage R&R and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Establishes line-specific Control Plans, inspection standards, and quality procedures; works with engineering on PFMEAs and APQP.
• Validates manufacturing processes (composite curing, bonding, welding, coatings) and leads 100% water-leak and seal tests.
• Drives 8D/5-Why investigations to reduce scrap and improve FPY.
• Performs LPAs, line checks, and first/last piece inspections; tracks scrap and defects.
• Maintains QMS compliance, work instructions, quality alerts, and deviations; ensures calibration of fixtures and tools.
• Recruits, trains, and leads QA/QC team; enforces safety and zero-defect culture.
• Collaborates with Quality, Core Operations and engineering to log, contain, and escalate material defects to suppliers.
• Manages QA budgets, schedules expenditures, and analyzes variances for continuous improvement.
• Keeps up with trends in quality management and participates in professional organizations.

Skills

QA Leadership

Root Cause Analysis

Cross-functional Collaboration

Team Management

Process Improvement

Communication

Travel readiness

Lean manufacturing

SOPs & Documentation

Education

BS/BA in Engineering or related field

Tools

Minitab

JMP

SPC software

PFMEA

APQP

ISO 9001/IATF 16949

QMS software

Process capability analysis

Job description

Description

DECKED is currently seeking an experienced Quality Assurance (QA) Manager. This position is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and enforcing quality standards across structural assembly, coating/finish, and final fitment operations. Must be highly skilled in building a culture of zero defects through rigorous process control, robust validation, and team leadership.

Essential Job Functions:

• Establishes and maintains line-specific Control Plans, inspection standards, and quality procedures; partners with engineering to provide shop-floor inputs into PFMEAs and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• Validates specialized manufacturing processes including composite curing, bonding, welding, and paint/coating applications and leads 100% water-leak and seal integrity testing to ensure compliance with dimensional, functional, and aesthetic specifications
• Drives rapid containment and 8D/5-Why root cause investigations for line rejections, scrap spikes, and customer fitment returns to improve First-Pass Yield (FPY) and eliminate waste
• Conducts daily Layered Process Audits (LPAs), line-side product checks, and first-piece/last-piece inspections; tracks localized quality metrics (scrap, rework, defect Pareto charts) for plant leadership
• Enforces QMS document compliance on the shop floor by ensuring current work instructions, quality alerts, and temporary process deviations are posted, trained on, and strictly followed
• Coordinates with Quality, Core Operations to ensure all line specific inspection fixtures, gauges, and testing equipment are properly maintained, verified daily, and kept within scheduled calibration intervals
• Recruits, trains, coaches, and manages the plant QA/QC inspection team; establishes shift expectations, enforces safety standards, and maintains a zero-defect culture across all manufacturing shifts
• Partners with Quality, Core Operations and engineering to immediately log, contain, and elevate incoming raw material defects (e.g., resins, glass, hardware, coatings) to suppliers
• Meets QA financial objectives by estimating requirements; preparing budgets; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions
• Updates job knowledge by studying trends in and developments in quality management; participating in educational opportunities; maintains personal networks; participates in professional organizations.
• Accepts ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; explores opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• BS/BA degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of QA leadership experience in automotive, composite, fiberglass, or heavy manufacturing environments
• Deep understanding of quality core tools (APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC).
• Professional quality certification (e.g., ASQ CQM/OE, CQE, or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt) strongly preferred.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 standards).
• Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., Minitab, JMP) to perform Gage R&R, process capability, and data analysis.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace, and workflow platforms (e.g., Asana).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and conflict-resolution skills with a hands-on presence on the factory floor.
• Able to travel to meet with suppliers as necessary
• Strong interpersonal skills with exceptional conflict resolution attribute
• Work history that demonstrates a strong work ethic
• Adaptability & stress tolerance
• Team-oriented with a positive attitude and willingness to work hard

Compensation and Benefits:

• Compensation DOE
• Health, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, and life insurance
• 401k with match
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness
• Free water, decent coffee, nice people
• Vacation