Advanced Quality ManagerLeads quality planning and execution for new product development, serving as the daily quality interface with our strategic customer and driving continuous improvement.
Minth North America is looking for a highly motivated Advanced Quality Manager to join our fast-growing Body Structure Technology Center, based in Wixom, MI or Windsor, Ontario. In this position, you will play a very important role in leading quality planning and execution for new product development, ensuring compliance with standards, and driving continuous improvement. You will be the key quality interface with our strategic customer on a daily basis.
Key responsibilities include facilitating Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes, performing root cause analysis on defects, developing quality controls, supporting validation, presenting quality results to the customer, and working with cross-functional teams globally. The role requires strong problem-solving skills, leadership, and a deep understanding of quality tools such as FMEAs, control plans and MSA capability studies, along with collaboration with engineering, manufacturing and suppliers.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES- Product development lifecycle: Participate in all phases of new product development, integrating quality requirements from initial design through production launch.
- Customer relationship: Build and maintain good customer relationships.
- Quality planning: Lead and document Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes, including creating workbooks, control plans and SPC control methods.
- Quality team supervision: Lead and plan all quality engineering activities, develop the local advanced quality team and mentor junior quality engineers.
- Risk management: Develop and implement quality controls, perform risk assessments (e.g., using FMEA) and conduct process capability studies.
- Process improvement: Analyze quality data, conduct root cause analysis for defects, and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Cross-functional collaboration: Act as a liaison between engineering, manufacturing, suppliers and other teams to drive project goals and ensure quality standards are met.
- Supplier quality: Work with the Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) to develop relationships with suppliers, evaluate their performance, and support their onboarding and quality initiatives.
- Documentation: Create and maintain quality documentation, including standard work instructions, inspection criteria, TR reports, lessons learned and any other APQP reports.
REQUIREMENTS- 7 years of working experience in quality or project management in the mechanical industry, or 3 or more years of experience as a quality manager in the automotive industry.
- Experience with quality tools such as APQP, PPAP, FMEA, 8D analysis, and SPC tools such as Minitab.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings and specifications.
- Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
- Knowledge of relevant quality standards and regulations.
- Experience with process capability studies and measurement system analysis.
- Fluent in English.
- Legally authorized to work in the country of the work location (United States or Canada).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (A PLUS)- Experience with Ford or GM program launches.
- Fluency in a second language, such as Mandarin, Korean or Spanish, to facilitate communication with our global corporate offices and North American assembly plants.
MINIMUM EDUCATION / FIELD OF STUDY- Bachelor's degree or above in mechanical engineering, engineering or a materials-related field.
KEY TO BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE- Strong leadership and the ability to mentor and develop a quality team.
- Ability to work in a global environment, coordinating with North America, Asia and our assembly plants.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, including presenting results directly to customers.
- A data-driven, hands-on approach to solving problems and a bias for action.
- Strong organization skills and the ability to manage multiple programs at once.
- A continuous improvement mindset.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT- Work is performed in both an office setting and on the manufacturing floor; time on the floor requires standing and walking and wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Frequent use of a computer, and ability to read drawings, gauges and printed or on-screen data.
- Occasional domestic or international travel to customer, supplier and plant sites.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
