Quality Control Manager I

Great Dane; Kewanee (IL); On-site; USD 86,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Dental, vision & medical benefits

Pension & 401(k) with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Great Dane is hiring a Quality Manager to own the plant quality system and lead governance using KPIs and quality gates. You will drive Lean improvements, engage with cross-functional teams, and manage QA/QC activities to ensure product reliability and cost control.

The role requires a bachelor’s in engineering, 5+ years in quality/CI with manufacturing exposure, and hands-on experience with QMS tools and statistics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or manufacturing engineering or related technical field.
• 5+ years in quality leadership, CI, or advanced quality systems; 2+ years in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive quality management program for the manufacturing site.
• Collaborate with leadership for planning, execution, and continuous improvement.
• Define strategies and KPIs; implement quality gates and analyses.
• Lead QC/QA teams, ensure inspection and testing control over materials and products.
• Coordinate with Sales, Purchasing, Engineering, Production, and Maintenance to resolve customer concerns.
• Provide quality engineering support to operations and drive cost reduction.

Skills

Quality management

Lean

Six Sigma Black Belt

KPI management

Gage R&R

FMEA

Control plans

Design for manufacture

Statistical process control

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or manufacturing Engineering

Tools

ERP & JD Edwards

Job description

THE ROLE

At Great Dane, we rely on makers and we’re calling on them to join our expanding team, the time has never been better to Embrace Your Great and work in an environment with the highest safety standards in the industry.

At Great Dane, we rely on makers and we’re calling on them to join our expanding team, the time has never been better to Embrace Your Great and work in an environment with the highest safety standards in the industry.

The position: Under the direction of the Plant Manager and Corporate Director of Quality, the Quality Manager owns the Quality system at the plant level and is responsible for effective execution and governance using Quality gates and KPI performance.

Responsibilities

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Develop a comprehensive product quality management program (including both quality assurance and quality control) for Great Dane manufacturing location.
• Collaborate with Great Dane’s leadership team for planning, execution, and oversight of the product quality management program and continuous process improvement.
• Define, develop, and implement short-term and long-term strategies, goals, objectives, and tactics relating to quality management.
• Develop/maintain Quality key performance indicators (KPIs) including Quality Gates and analyze for opportunities to optimize performance.
• Use Lean Alert activities and processes to drive product quality improvements and respond to process, product, and service issues.
• Assists with the implementation of Lean Manufacturing goals and strategies for improving the operations and processes within the organization. Employs Lean methodologies and tools to accomplish business objectives.
• Develops and analyzes statistical data and product/process specifications to determine present standards and establish proposed quality and reliability expectancy of finished product.
• Formulates and maintains quality assurance objectives and aligns those objectives with production procedures in coordination with other managers to maximize product reliability and minimize costs (including quality failure cost, scrap).
• Directs team members engaged in inspection and testing activities to ensure continuous control over materials, facilities, and products.
• Plans, promotes, and organizes training activities related to product quality and reliability.
• Investigates and adjusts customer concerns regarding quality.
• Collaborate with Great Dane’s quality and engineering personnel to determine critical part features and review manufacturability of design. Make recommendations to modify customer part specifications and tolerances as necessary to support cost effective production.
• Provide quality engineering support to operations ensuring consistent application of quality techniques.
• Resolve quality issues of capability, tolerancing, and materials related issues.
• Resolve quality issues by identifying problems, examining solution options, implementing action plans, and providing resources.
• Effectively communicate and reinforce Great Dane’s commitment to quality improvement efforts.
• Coordinate pre-launch production trial run process monitoring.
• Perform duties in accordance with quality system requirements as the voice of Great Dane’s customers.
• Coordinate with Sales, Purchasing, Engineering, Production, and Maintenance to resolve customer complaints and concerns.
• Serve as a key member of the Plant Senior Leadership Team, supporting achievement of Safety, Quality, delivery and Cost targets for the GD manufacturing Plant.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Your skills and abilities (required qualifications)

• Education: bachelor’s degree in mechanical or manufacturing Engineering. Other technical degrees accepted.
• Experience: 5+ years of related and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Skills:
• Quality Management System Experience – ISO, TS16949
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in Continuous Improvement and/or Advanced Quality Systems leadership; a minimum of 2 years’ experience in manufacturing.
• ASQ CQE/CQM Certification
• Built in quality experience.
• KPI management
• Trailer manufacturing and assembly
• AQL, inspection, and testing
• Data capture and analysis; corrective and preventive actions
• Process control/statistical process control
• FMEA
• Control plans
• Gage R&R
• Design of experiments
• Stack up and critical dimensions.
• GD&T
• Design for manufacture and assembly
• Design verification and validation
• Finite element analysis
• Standard work and error proofing
• SMED
• TPM & OEE
• 6S & visual factory
• Value stream mapping
• Analytical thinking
• Data analysis and reporting
• Problem solving
• Change leadership
• Continuous improvement
• Lean certified
• Six Sigma Black Belt /MBB
• Advanced excel, macros, VB tools.
• ERP & JD Edward proficiency
• Travel: Up to 15% for role and development needs.

Physical/Mental Requirements

• Physical demands: While performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close and distance vision.
• Work environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal to moderate.

About Great Dane

With a history dating back to 1900, Great Dane has established itself as a transportation solutions leader of today – delivering innovative products and exceptional services that help our customers and employees succeed. We not only engineer durable and high-quality trailers and truck bodies; we foster relationships that last a lifetime.

WHY WORK FOR US?

Great Dane is a leading manufacturer of dry-freight vans, refrigerated trailers, and flatbeds with 10 manufacturing facilities and 20 service centers throughout the United States. With a legacy like ours comes a dedication to the hard-working individuals that make Great Dane what it is today. Our jobs are waiting to be filled by driven, challenge-focused & enthusiastic people like you.

Benefits Overview

• Competitive compensation
• Benefits, including but not limited to dental, vision, and medical with employer contributions
• Retirement programs, including a Pension Plan and 401(k) Plan with employer match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid holidays and vacation
• And more!

SALARY RANGE

The expected salary range for this role is $85,957 - $128,935 per year.

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your exact pay, we may also consider your skills, experience, and other job-related factors .

Great Dane is an Equal Opportunity Employer