Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager

Altorfer Cat; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays

Paid time off (PTO)

Education assistance

Safety equipment reimbursement

Job summary

Altorfer Power Systems Packaging division seeks a Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager to lead the Quality Management System (QMS) and drive continuous improvement across Data Center and Refurbishment operations. You will champion a culture of operational excellence, ensuring product quality, supplier performance, and data-driven decision making, reporting to the General Manager.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Sales, and Operations to enhance safety,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business or related discipline; equivalent experience considered.
• Three+ years of progressive leadership in Quality, Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead Packaging QMS in accordance with ISO 9001 requirements and drive internal audits and management reviews.
• Lead Lean / Continuous Improvement initiatives to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Develop and monitor dashboards and KPIs using Power BI, Excel, and ERP data for leadership.
• Manage supplier quality programs and cross-functional actions with Supply Chain.
• Coach and develop a high-performing Quality & CI team and serve as a cross-functional representative.

Skills

Leadership

ISO 9001

Data analytics

Power BI

ERP systems

Excel

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Quality/Manufacturing/Operations

Tools

Power BI

ERP systems

Quality Management Software

Job description

This is a full-time, exempt position. The employee will be expected to work the hours necessary to fulfill the position's duties. Typical work schedule is M-F, first shift.

Altorfer Power Systems, a leading Caterpillar dealership is looking for a Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager for its Packaging division. The Packaging division builds generator set packages and other power products, including fuel tank bases, enclosures, control panels, etc.

The Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager provides strategic leadership for Altorfer Power Systems Packaging's Quality Management System and Continuous Improvement initiatives across both Data Center and Refurbishment operations.

This role is responsible for developing and sustaining a culture of operational excellence by ensuring exceptional product quality, driving process improvements, enhancing supplier performance, and leading data-driven decision making throughout the organization.

Reporting directly to General Manager, the Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager partners closely with Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Sales, and Operations to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance while ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 standards and exceeding customer expectations.

This position serves as a change agent who develops people, strengthens processes, and drives continuous improvement initiatives that improve operational performance and support long-term business growth.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Recruit, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing Quality & Continuous Improvement team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Establish departmental objectives, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with Packaging and Power Systems Division strategic goals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop employees through regular coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Serve as the primary Quality & Continuous Improvement representative in cross-functional leadership discussions and customer interactions.
• Champion a culture where quality is owned by every employee throughout the organization.

Quality Management System (ISO 9001)

• Lead and continually improve the Packaging Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with ISO 9001 requirements.
• Ensure quality procedures, documentation, work instructions, and process controls remain effective, standardized, and audit ready.
• Lead internal audits, management reviews, corrective actions, risk assessments, and continual improvement activities.
• Maintain compliance with customer, regulatory, and corporate quality requirements.
• Prepare the organization for successful customer and third-party audits.

Product Quality & Customer Satisfaction

• Lead initiatives that improve product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction across all Packaging operations.
• Oversee customer complaints, warranty issues, nonconforming product investigations, and corrective actions.
• Ensure robust root cause analysis using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 5 Whys, Fishbone, and similar tools.
• Drive effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and verify long-term effectiveness.
• Monitor and improve key quality metrics including First Pass Yield (FPY), Defects Per Unit (DPU), rework, scrap, warranty performance, and customer quality trends.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives that improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream improvements, and cross-functional improvement projects.
• Partner with Engineering and Production to develop standardized, repeatable, and scalable manufacturing processes.
• Identify waste, eliminate process variation, and improve manufacturing capability through data-driven improvement efforts.
• Measure and communicate the financial impact of continuous improvement initiatives.

Supplier Quality Management

• Develop strategic supplier quality programs that improve incoming quality and supplier performance.
• Establish supplier quality metrics, monitor trends, and drive continuous improvement with key suppliers.
• Lead supplier audits, qualifications, corrective actions, and performance reviews.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to ensure suppliers consistently meet quality, delivery, and documentation requirements.

Data Analytics & Business Intelligence

• Lead Packaging quality reporting, data governance, and performance analytics.
• Develop dashboards and KPIs that provide actionable insights for leadership.
• Utilize Power BI, Excel, ERP systems, and other business tools to identify trends and support operational decision making.
• Ensure quality data is accurate, consistent, and readily available across the organization.

Process Development & Risk Management

• Partner with Engineering during new product introductions and process changes to ensure robust quality planning.
• Evaluate manufacturing risks and implement mitigation strategies before customer impact occurs.
• Support development of standardized work, quality plans, inspection methods, and process controls.
• Drive continuous improvement of manufacturing processes to improve capability, repeatability, and reliability.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Three or more years of progressive leadership experience in Quality, Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Operations.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and implementing sustainable operational improvements.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
• Experience leading structured problem-solving and corrective action processes.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive business decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Must possess a valid driver's license with clean driving record. This includes no more than 2 minor violations within the past 3 years and no major violations within the past 5 years (Motor Vehicle Report will be performed on final candidate).

Qualifications Preferred

• Manufacturing experience within heavy equipment, power systems, industrial fabrication, or related industries.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE).
• Experience with supplier quality management.
• Power BI, ERP, and Quality Management System software experience.
• Experience leading successful ISO 9001 certification or surveillance audits.

Altorfer Inc. offers an industry leading compensation and benefit package

• Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave and Funeral Leave
• Paid Time Off Prorated 80 hours of PTO + 1 Floating Holiday
• Education Assistance
• Personal Tool Insurance, and Safety Equipment Reimbursement
• Voluntary Benefits Supplemental Insurance, Accident, Critical and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Legal Assistance and Identity & Fraud Protection

Payrate $85,000 - $110,000 annually plus a discretionary bonus of up to 20%

USD $85,000.00/Yr.

USD $110,000.00/Yr.

This position primarily works in an office environment. May, on a continuous basis, sit at a desk for a long period of time; intermittently answer the telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means. Some walking and lifting up to 20 lbs. may be required. There may be times when you may need to go out into the service shop, production or warehouse area and will be required to wear appropriate safety equipment (IE- Safety glasses or side shields). The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Why Work for Altorfer?

At Altorfer, our iron is just the beginning. Our people make our company successful, and we would not be who we are without them. As a third generation, family-owned company created in 1957, we bring our values into how we do business. Everyone from technicians, sales representatives, administrative professionals, or somewhere in between is part of the "A-Team" and is crucial to our success. Here at Altorfer, we have over 35 locations and 1300 employees with long tenure for you to learn from. We have a collaborative, family valued culture, with a great reputation in the industry. A company that offers competitive pay, excellent benefits, and a remarkable team of people to work with.