The Lasko Manager, Field Quality is responsible for Lasko's product quality performance after products reach the consumer. This position owns the field quality data across all Lasko brands, sets the thresholds that trigger an investigation, leads each investigation to a verified corrective action on a defined schedule, and supplies field failure data to engineering, product integrity, and supplier quality for use in design and process decisions.
This is an on-site position with travel to Lasko manufacturing and distribution sites and to suppliers. Primary location West Chester, PA headquarters. Candidates in Greater Boston / Burlington, MA will also be considered.
Essential FunctionsField Quality Monitoring and Early Detection- Own the field quality data across all Lasko brands:
- Return rate and retailer defective return data
- Warranty claims
- Consumer service contacts
- Consumer ratings and review content
- Plant and supplier quality data as it bears on field performance
- Set and maintain the thresholds at which a change in the data opens an investigation, and revise them as product mix and sourcing change.
- Report field quality performance, open issues, owners, and due dates at the ELT quality review.
Investigation and Closure- Lead cross-functional investigations to closure, assigning an owner and a date for each action across engineering, supplier quality, plant quality, and consumer services.
- Chair the corrective and preventive action (CAPA) review, and hold each open item to its committed date.
- Apply structured problem-solving methods and hold the participating functions to them:
- 8D
- 5-Why
- Fishbone (cause and effect)
- Fault tree analysis
- DMAIC
- A3
- Recommend containment actions, including stop ship, product hold, rework, and retailer notification, and present the evidence supporting the recommendation.
- Verify the effectiveness of each corrective action against post-implementation data before closing it.
- Escalate any issue involving product safety or regulatory compliance immediately on identification.
Design and Supplier Feedback- Supply field failure history to product integrity for use in DFMEA, and confirm that the failure modes seen in the field are represented.
- Issue supplier corrective action requests (SCARs) arising from field failures, and verify supplier responses against subsequent field data.
- Report the cost of poor quality attributable to field failures, and prioritize work against it.
Standards and Development- Define the standard for failure analysis documentation, investigation records, and corrective action closure, and apply it across the quality organization.
- Provide technical direction and coaching to Quality Assurance Engineers.
Competencies and Abilities- Ability to lead a cross-functional investigation in which no participant reports to this position.
- Ability to make a containment recommendation on incomplete information, and to state what is established and what is not.
- Ability to apply and teach structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5-Why, fishbone, fault tree, DMAIC, A3).
- Proficiency in statistical analysis and the interpretation of failure rate data (Excel, Minitab, or similar).
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, DFMEAs, PFMEAs, and control plans.
- Ability to present quality performance and issue status to an executive audience.
- Working knowledge of consumer product construction, including motors, heating elements, controls, and molded plastic components.
Certifications and Special Requirements- Working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management system requirements.
- Working knowledge of core quality tools: FMEA, control plans, SPC, CAPA, and PPAP.
- Working knowledge of UL and ETL product safety requirements and of CPSC reporting obligations.
- Six Sigma Green Belt is a plus.
Required/Desired Education and Experience- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related technical field required.
- 6 or more years of experience in product or manufacturing quality required.
- At least 2 years leading cross-functional corrective action to closure required.
- Experience in consumer products, appliances, or another high-volume consumer durable category preferred.
- Experience with warranty, returns, or field failure data preferred.
