Quality Supervisor

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America; De Soto (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan with company matching

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America in De Soto, Kansas, seeks a Quality Supervisor to lead a team of technicians and ensure daily quality objectives align with ISO 9001/IATF16949 standards and customer requirements.

You will drive corrective actions, mentor staff, and collaborate with Operations, Engineering, and Maintenance to resolve issues, sustain a robust QMS, and support audits and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Preferred: CQE, CQA, Six Sigma Green Belt or higher, ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Certification, HazMat Certification, Lean Manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily quality operations and supervise quality technicians, inspectors, and team leads to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Maintain and improve the Quality Management System (QMS), CAPA processes, and internal audits.
• Analyze quality metrics, drive corrective and preventive actions, and mentor staff for continuous improvement.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, or a related technical field

Job description

Overview

The Quality Supervisor plays a critical role in driving process improvement, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and supporting the success of the world’s largest lithium‑ion battery manufacturing initiative. Reporting to the Quality Manager, this role leads a team of quality technicians, inspectors, and team leads to ensure execution of daily quality objectives and adherence to customer and regulatory requirements. Through cross‑functional collaboration with Operations, Engineering, and Maintenance, the Quality Supervisor resolves process issues, implements corrective actions, and prevents defects. By leveraging data analysis and disciplined quality systems, this position drives continuous improvement and ensures delivery of high‑quality products to customers.

Essential Duties

Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Lead daily quality operations, overseeing in‑process and final product inspections to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Supervise quality technicians, inspectors, and team leads to ensure effective execution of quality control activities.
• Monitor and enforce quality control procedures across production lines.
• Support and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS), including document control, CAPA processes, and internal audits.

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Analyze quality performance metrics and trends to identify improvement opportunities.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce defects and prevent recurrence.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with organizational quality objectives.
• Ensure adherence to applicable regulatory, industry, and customer requirements.

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Develop, coach, and mentor quality team members to enhance technical capability and performance.
• Provide ongoing training on quality procedures, standards, and plant policies.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and operational excellence.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner with operations, engineering, and maintenance teams to resolve non‑conformities and improve processes.
• Communicate quality objectives, performance metrics, and results to leadership and frontline teams.
• Support customer and external audit activities as required.

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with plant policies, regulatory requirements, and safety standards.
• Identify quality risks and implement mitigation strategies to protect product integrity.
• Lead internal audit readiness and support external quality and regulatory inspections.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly supervise Quality Technicians, Inspectors, and Team Leads, including hiring, training, performance management, and corrective action.
• Plan, assign, and oversee daily work activities to ensure compliance with quality standards, company policies, and operational objectives.

Travel Requirement:

• This position is primarily site‑based with no regular travel requirements.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

• Wearing PPE may be necessary and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

Qualifications

Education, Certifications, and Licenses:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required.

Preferred Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA).
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher.
• ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Certification.
• Hazardous Materials Handling Certification (e.g., OSHA HAZWOPER or equivalent).
• Lean Manufacturing Certification.

Essential Qualifications:

• 3+ years of progressive leadership experience in quality assurance or quality control within a manufacturing or distribution environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, train, and develop quality inspectors and technicians while ensuring adherence to safety, quality, and procedural standards.
• Strong working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949) and applicable regulatory standards (e.g., UL, CE, RoHS).
• Proven analytical and problem‑solving skills with a data‑driven approach to decision‑making.
• Working knowledge of production processes and manufacturing operations.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and resolve conflict across teams.
• Team‑oriented and adaptable, with a proactive, accountable, and continuous improvement‑focused mindset.
• Must have working‑level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English.
• Alignment to Panasonic’s seven core principles.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of supervisory experience in high‑volume and/or regulated manufacturing environments (e.g., automotive, electronics, energy storage).
• Experience in battery manufacturing, automotive, or clean energy industries.
• Advanced knowledge of statistical quality tools (e.g., SPC, MSA, FMEA, 8D, Pareto analysis).
• Experience applying structured root cause analysis methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Ishikawa).
• Experience with quality and manufacturing systems (e.g., QMS platforms, MES, ERP).
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with customer‑specific quality requirements (e.g., OEM or Tier 1 standards).
• Advanced Excel skills and/or experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Minitab).

Physical Demands

Physical Activities:

• Sit: 10%
• Walk: 50%
• Stand: 40%

Required Lifting and Carrying:

• Rare (<1%), Occasional (1‑33%), Frequent (34‑66%), Continuous (67‑100%)

For This Position, The Required Frequency Is:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent
• Up to 20 lbs.: Frequent
• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
• Team‑lift only (over 35 lbs.): Rare

Benefits & Perks

• Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time‑Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job‑related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs – Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources.
• Employee Recognition Program – High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition.
• Annual Bonus Program – Opportunity for an annual performance‑based bonus.
• On‑site Food Options – Several on‑site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on‑site vendor visits and employee events.

Location

The position is located in De Soto, Kansas, within Panasonic Energy’s world‑largest lithium‑ion battery manufacturing facility, located just outside the Kansas City Metro.

Who We Are

Panasonic Energy is dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. We produce safe, high‑quality lithium‑ion batteries for electric vehicles and other applications, contributing to the development of cleaner transportation and energy solutions.

Supplemental Information

Pre‑employment drug testing is required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.