Quality Manager

Ascend Recruiting Partners; Montgomery (AL); On-site; USD 76,500 - 93,500; Full time

Job summary

Ascend Recruiting Partners seeks a Quality Manager in Montgomery, AL, focusing on automotive injection molding. This hands-on role involves managing quality operations, customer and supplier quality activities, and leading continuous improvement initiatives. Candidates must have over 5 years of experience, strong problem-solving skills, and proficiency in quality tools like SPC and 8D methodology. This position offers an opportunity to enhance execution across production quality and ensure compliance with regulations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of quality experience in manufacturing (automotive injection molding preferred).
• Familiarity with IATF 16949 and/or ISO 9001 standards.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications.

Responsibilities

• Ensure execution of SPC monitoring and escalated deviations.
• Manage customer complaints end-to-end using 8D methodology.
• Coordinate supplier quality requirements.

Skills

5+ years of quality experience in manufacturing

Strong hands-on experience with SPC

Proficiency in Microsoft 365

Strong problem-solving skills

Strong communication skills

Tools

SPC

8D Problem Solving

PPAP

Control Plans

FMEA

Job description

Job Title: Quality Manager

Industry: Plastics Manufacturing

On-site Location: Montgomery, AL

Relocation Provided: Yes

Salary Range: $85,000+++ Depending on Experience

Job Overview:

The Quality Manager is a hands-on, floor-focused role responsible for strengthening execution across production, customer, and supplier quality activities in a high-volume automotive injection molding environment. This position supports day-to-day quality operations, problem-solving, and process discipline rather than full Quality Management System ownership. The role operates within a highly automated manufacturing environment.

The position emphasizes process stability, repeatability, and rapid issue resolution in a fast-paced, performance-driven setting. The Quality Manager works cross-functionally with production, engineering, automation, and suppliers to ensure adherence to strict dimensional and cosmetic requirements. This role includes limited supervision responsibilities and is critical to stabilizing operations, reducing defects, and supporting ongoing production and customer requirements.

Minimum Requirements:

• 5+ years of quality experience in manufacturing (automotive injection molding experience highly preferred)
• Strong hands-on experience with:
  • SPC (Statistical Process Control)
  • PPAP
  • FMEA
  • Control Plans
  • 8D problem solving
• Familiarity with IATF 16949 and/or ISO 9001 standards
• Working knowledge of VDA 6.3 standards
• Experience in a production-floor environment with direct involvement in operations
• Experience managing customer complaints and driving corrective actions
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications
• Strong problem-solving skills with a hands-on, practical approach
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Strong communication skills with internal teams, customers, and suppliers

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience with appearance-critical (Class A) components
• Knowledge of multi-component / two-shot molding processes
• Experience working with automation, robotics, and EOAT systems
• Audit certification or experience conducting supplier audits

Responsibilities:

Production Quality Execution

• Ensure execution of SPC monitoring and escalated deviations
• Oversee start-up approvals, first-piece/last-piece inspections
• Monitor functional/mechanical testing and documentation
• Maintain compliance with production and quality processes
• Support process validation, setup discipline, and ongoing monitoring

Customer Quality

• Manage customer complaints end-to-end using 8D methodology
• Act as primary customer quality contact
• Ensure compliance with customer-specific requirements
• Support customer audits and readiness activities

Supplier Quality

• Coordinate supplier quality requirements
• Review and approve PPAP submissions
• Participate in supplier evaluation and audits
• Support supplier performance improvement initiatives

Audits & Compliance

• Conduct internal product and process audits
• Support customer and supplier audits
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained

Quality Planning & Documentation

• Develop and maintain control plans, inspection plans, and work instructions
• Ensure traceability and proper documentation of quality activities
• Align documentation with FMEA and production requirements

Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

• Lead structured problem-solving activities on the production floor
• Participate in FMEA workshops and improvement initiatives
• Drive scrap reduction, defect prevention, and process stability

Team Support

• Provide first-line oversight of QA personnel (limited supervision)
• Support training and onboarding of employees
• Assist in building quality discipline across operations