Quality Manager

Stryten Manufacturing; Salina (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Stryten Energy in Salina, Kansas seeks a Quality Engineer to lead day-to-day manufacturing quality, own CP/PFD, and drive continuous improvement. Expect auditing, calibration oversight, and collaboration with engineering to resolve defects and implement permanent corrective actions.

The role requires 4-year technical degree and 5–8 years in quality in manufacturing, with CQE and Six Sigma/Lean familiarity preferred. Travel and hands-on leadership on the shop floor are required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4-year technical degree in science, engineering or quality.
• 5–8 years related experience as a quality engineer in manufacturing.
• CQE preferred.
• Six Sigma Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day quality support to manufacturing with plans and procedures.
• Own the Control Plan and Process Flow Diagram, ensuring CP/PFD compliance.
• Audit processes and operator tasks for compliance to CP, processes, and specs.
• Validate that Work Instructions are current and accessible to operations.
• Cover quality team on the production floor and lab testing per plans.
• Maintain calibration system for gauges impacting quality; ensure timely calibration.
• Verify incoming material specs and periodic in-process sampling.
• Coordinate short/long-term capability studies with process engineering for improvement.
• Investigate product defects, test performance, and drive permanent CAPA.
• Lead problem-solving training and mentor teams on corrective actions.
• Assist with quality audits and reports; link actions to CPs, PFMEA, PPAPs.

Skills

Leadership

Problem solving

Quality focus

Statistical methods

IATF 16949

Six Sigma / Lean

Communication

Teamwork

Education

4-year technical degree in science/engineering/quality

Job description

Overview

The Stryten factory in Salina, Kansas is one of the largest lead-acid battery manufacturing sites in North America with 800 employees capable of producing more than 35,000 quality batteries per day. These batteries can be found in your car, in your boat or RV, or, in your lawn and garden equipment. Stryten proudly supports the local community by regularly participating in Project Salina, the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, and providing more than 100 volunteers for the Smoky Hill River Festival.

Individual will provide leadership in the day to day activities for all departments within the facility and partner with the Engineering community to solve problems and improve quality. Regular responsibilities require management of product and process data collection and summary, corrective action system updates, Calibration, internal auditing, and key customer communications. This individual should have a thorough working knowledge of IATF 16949 Quality System Requirements, OEM expectations, and the Quality Operating System for manufacturing and distribution.

Responsibilities

• Provide day to day quality support to manufacturing in the form of plans and procedures
• Responsible for the Control Plan (CP) and Process Flow Diagram (PFD) for the site. CP and PFD must be compliant to all corporate procedures.
• Responsible for auditing the process and operator tasks are compliance to the CP, Corporate process, and product specifications.
• Responsible for the auditing and validating that plant Work Instructions are the most current and are available to all operations for proper use.
• Responsible for quality team coverage on the production floor and lab testing in compliance with testing and control plan requirements
• Responsible for the calibration system of all gauges that have impact on product quality. Verification that all gauges are calibrated on time or early, MSA evaluations are completed, and plant follows documented calibration procedures.
• Verify incoming material requirements for Material Specifications.
• Responsible for compliance with the periodic sampling of in-process components.
• Responsible for the coordination of short term and long-term capability studies in conjunction with the plant process engineering team for continuous improvement.
• Conduct research on product defects, test performance, plant reject and scrap, and drive process or product improvements.
• Develop timely response to customer quality concerns and drive permanent corrective actions into the plant.
• Lead structure problem solving training within the plant and lead by example.
• Assist with conducting and preparation of quality audits and reports.
• Work with teams on problem solving initiatives and link actions and outcomes to Control Plans, PFMEA’s, plant inspection points, and Customer returns.
• Responsible for maintaining routine electrical testing of final product.
• Coordinate efforts with the team with corrective action resolution for internal KPI’s and external customer issues (assembly plant complaint and warranty initiatives).
• Perform other miscellaneous duties inherent to the job.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsible for providing technical guidance and direction to positions including but not limited to Customer Quality Specialist, Quality Systems Coordinator, Quality Inspectors, Lab and Calibration Technicians, and clerks. Day to day supervision responsibilities include determining departmental training needs, evaluation of subordinate job performance, recommend salary/title changes, and determining hiring actions. Coaching and developing employees for future career advancement and to assure accountability and adherence to established policies and procedures.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Maintain positive corporate, employee, customer and vendor working relationships to enable resolution of the most difficult quality issues.

Qualifications

Education, Experience Required:

• Minimum of 4 year technical degree in science, engineering or quality. Prefer degree in engineering
• 5-8 years related experience as a quality engineer or equivalent at a corporate and/or manufacturing plant, preferably a tier I supplier in the automotive industry
• CQE preferred
• Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) preferred

Competencies, Skills, Knowledge:

• Demonstrate leadership skills
• Proficient in problem solving – root cause analysis, 5 why, etc.
• Must be quality and customer oriented
• Must have strong problem solving skills
• Knowledgeable in IATF 16949 quality standards; APQP methodology; Control Plans, FMEAs, and PPAPs
• Knowledgeable in Six Sigma and Lean tools
• Familiarity with Quality Operating Systems
• Must be able to work independently and in a team-oriented environment on multiple projects
• Strong skills in statistical methods
• Strong verbal/written communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong computer skills -Windows-based programs

Environement:

• Able to work inside or outside the plant environment and in all climate conditions. Exposed to lead, fumes, chemicals, operating equipment, and vehicles.

Physical Requirements:

• The physical demands described here 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. Able to see, hear and speak; able to sit, stand for at least two hours at a time, sit, bend, craw, squat, kneel and climb; able to use both arms and hands to use a computer and peripherals and lift 40 pounds from floor level to overhead, able to work below ground level in confined spaces and on stationary or mobile elevated platforms, able to wear respirator and other PPE as required. Regular use of safety glasses and shoes.

Travel

• Travel as required for training, meeting with regulatory agencies, and to other company-sanctioned events <=15%.

EEO Statement

Stryten Energy is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

About Statement

Stryten Energy helps solve the world’s most pressing energy challenges with a broad range of energy storage solutions across the Essential Power, Motive Power, Transportation, Military and Government sectors. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, we partner with some of the world’s most recognized companies to meet the growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy storage capacity. Stryten powers everything from submarines to subcompacts, microgrids, warehouses, distribution centers, cars, trains and trucks. Our stored energy technologies include advanced lead, lithium and vanadium redox flow batteries, intelligent chargers and energy performance management software that keep people on the move and supply chains running. An industry leader backed by more than a century of expertise, Stryten has The Energy to Challenge the status quo and deliver top-performing energy solutions for today and tomorrow. Learn more at stryten.com.