POSITION SUMMARY: Lead the LBT quality function and build a prevention-based culture of quality at the source across aluminum trailer and pressure-vessel operations. Own the quality management system and ensure purchased materials, fabricated components, work in process, and finished products comply with customer, engineering, ISO, AWS, ASME, regulatory, and Company requirements. Build the systems, records, and operating discipline required to support current commercial products and future military and government work. Partner directly with Operations and Engineering to eliminate recurring defects, improve process capability, and deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:- Own, maintain, and continually improve an ISO 9001-compliant quality management system, including procedures, process controls, document and record control, internal audits, management review, risk-based thinking, corrective action, and certification readiness.
- Serve as the plant's senior quality leader and primary point of contact for customers, ISO registrars, ASME Authorized Inspectors, government representatives, and internal stakeholders on quality and compliance matters.
- Build quality at the source by establishing clear process controls, inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and reaction plans across fabrication, welding, assembly, paint, and final test operations.
- Lead structured problem solving and corrective action using disciplined methods such as 8D, A3, 5 Why, cause-and-effect analysis, containment, verification of effectiveness, and error proofing.
- Partner with Operations and Engineering to reduce defects, rework, scrap, customer escapes, and cost of poor quality while improving first-pass yield and on-time delivery.
- Establish and manage plant quality metrics, including first-pass yield, internal defects, rework and scrap, customer complaints and escapes, supplier defects, audit findings, and corrective-action closure. Provide clear daily, weekly, and monthly reporting.
- Ensure compliance with customer contracts, engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, inspection and test plans, applicable ISO, AWS, and ASME code requirements, military or government quality clauses, and all relevant regulatory requirements.
- Maintain effective contract review, configuration and change control, product identification, material and weld traceability, inspection status, nonconforming-material control, and required quality records throughout the manufacturing process, including material test reports and objective evidence of product conformity.
- Lead internal, customer, ISO registrar, ASME, and government audits; maintain audit readiness and ensure findings are contained, corrected, closed on time, and prevented from recurring.
- Manage nonconforming material and the material review process, including timely disposition, segregation, escalation, root-cause analysis, and closure.
- Develop supplier quality expectations, monitor supplier performance, initiate supplier corrective actions, and verify sustained closure in partnership with Supply Chain and Engineering.
- Ensure measuring and test equipment is suitable, calibrated, controlled, and used correctly; improve inspection methods, fixtures, and equipment as needed.
- Oversee weld-quality systems and inspection practices in accordance with applicable AWS codes and customer requirements, including WPS, PQR, welder performance qualifications, continuity records, inspection, NDE coordination, training, documentation, and coordination with the Weld Instructor.
- Own and maintain the ASME quality control program for applicable pressure-vessel work, including compliance with ASME Section VIII, Division 1 and applicable National Board requirements; material control and traceability; examination and inspection points; code documentation and data reports; coordination with the Authorized Inspector; and readiness for code stamping and audits.
- Develop and sustain the quality-system capabilities needed for future military and government work, including contract-quality review, customer and regulatory flow-downs, configuration and change control, first-article inspection, product and material traceability, objective-quality evidence, record retention, and government source-inspection support.
- Assess quality risks for new products and process changes and lead quality planning for first-article, prototype, validation, and production-readiness activities, including future military and government programs.
- Develop, coach, and hold accountable the Quality team; establish standard work, clear priorities, effective floor coverage, and a strong sense of ownership for plant performance.
- Train leaders and employees on the quality management system, defect prevention, inspection requirements, escalation standards, and their responsibility for product quality.
- Maintain a visible presence on the manufacturing floor, respond rapidly to quality issues, and communicate facts, risks, containment actions, and recovery plans with urgency and clarity.
- Follow all safety and PPE requirements, stop unsafe work when necessary, and actively support Company safety, environmental, and hazardous waste procedures.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:- Quality Engineers and Quality Inspectors
- Weld Instructor and other assigned Quality personnel
QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree in engineering, quality, manufacturing, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education, technical training, and directly relevant experience may be considered.
- Minimum of seven years of progressive quality experience in a complex manufacturing environment, including at least three years leading a quality team.
- Experience in fabricated metal products, pressure vessels, welding, heavy equipment, transportation equipment, aerospace, defense, or a similarly regulated build-to-print environment.
- Demonstrated experience owning or administering an ISO 9001 quality management system and leading internal, certification, surveillance, and customer audits is required. Direct experience with applicable AWS welding requirements and ASME Section VIII, Division 1 quality controls in a code-fabrication environment is required.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, AWS Certified Welding Inspector, or comparable certification is preferred. Experience supporting military or government contracts, first-article inspection, source inspection, and customer-specific quality clauses is preferred.
SKILL REQUIREMENTS:- Strong working knowledge of inspection and quality-control methods, inspection and test plans, sampling plans, measurement systems analysis, calibration, NDE, and test equipment.
- Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, bills of material, material specifications, weld symbols, contracts, code requirements, and acceptance criteria.
- Demonstrated ability to solve cross-functional manufacturing problems using data, direct observation, structured root-cause analysis, and verified corrective action.
- Proficiency in Lean manufacturing principles, quality at the source, standard work, layered process audits, 6S, and continuous improvement.
- Strong working knowledge of welding, metal fabrication, assembly, coating or paint, pressure testing, and final functional testing processes.
- Ability to translate quality-system requirements into practical shop-floor controls and hold leaders and employees accountable for adherence.
- Strong leadership, coaching, organizational, and change-management skills, with the ability to develop a capable and credible Quality team.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present quality performance, risk, and corrective-action status to plant and executive leadership.
- Sound judgment and the confidence to stop production or shipment when product conformity or customer requirements are at risk.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience with ERP and quality-management systems, including XA or similar platforms, is preferred.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:- This position requires exposure to manufacturing areas where personal protective equipment may be required, including safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, hard hats, and hearing protection.
- Visual acuity is required for activities such as viewing a computer terminal; conducting visual inspections involving small defects or parts; operating machines, including inspection equipment; and using measurement devices.
- Ability to sit or stand as needed.
- Ability to walk primarily on level surfaces throughout the workday.
- Subject to both indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, including temperatures below 32° or above 100° for periods of more than one hour, as well as wind and humidity.
- Typical plant lighting and manufacturing equipment are present throughout the facility.
SAFETY AND POLICY PRACTICES:The employee in this position must be knowledgeable of the Company's safety policies and procedures as described in the Company safety manual. The employee must adhere to all applicable policies and procedures while supporting the goals and objectives of the organization and recognizing the Company's need to achieve its business objectives. The employee is responsible for complying with Company hazardous waste disposal procedures.
Affirmative Action:All terms and conditions of employment will be administered without regard to an individual's sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as needed to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
