Quality Manager in Aiken, South Carolina at Columbia Vehicle Group

Columbia Vehicle Group is seeking an experienced, results-driven Quality Manager to lead our manufacturing quality operations and drive continuous improvement across our organization.

The Quality Manager plays a key role in establishing and maintaining quality standards, leading quality assurance initiatives, and ensuring our vehicles meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
This position requires a hands-on leader who can collaborate effectively with manufacturing teams, identify opportunities for process improvement, reduce defects and rework, and build a culture of accountability and quality throughout the production process.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Lead and manage the company's quality management system, including inspection standards, procedures, work instructions, and document control.
Develop and implement quality checkpoints throughout the manufacturing and assembly process to identify defects early.
Lead, train, and develop quality inspection personnel while promoting accountability and continuous improvement.
Partner with Operations leadership to improve production quality, reduce rework, and increase first-pass inspection success.
Analyze quality performance data, identify recurring defects, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
Lead root cause investigations and problem-solving initiatives to prevent recurring quality issues.
Conduct internal quality audits to ensure compliance with established standards and procedures.
Oversee final quality inspections and pre-delivery inspection standards to ensure vehicles meet requirements before shipment.
Manage customer quality concerns, lead corrective action responses, and maintain strong customer relationships.
Collaborate with Supply Chain to monitor supplier quality, address defective materials, and improve supplier performance.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including defect rates, rework hours, first-pass yield, and cost of poor quality.
Provide regular quality performance updates and improvement recommendations to executive leadership.

Required Qualifications
Minimum of 4 years of manufacturing quality experience, including at least 2 years in a quality leadership role.
Experience in vehicle, equipment, or similar manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated success implementing quality improvements and reducing manufacturing defects and rework.
Strong understanding of root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, 5 Why, Pareto analysis, and fishbone diagrams.
Working knowledge of quality management systems, control plans, corrective actions, and internal auditing.
Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
Ability to collaborate across departments while maintaining accountability for quality standards.
Hands-on leadership approach with a strong presence on the manufacturing floor.

Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field.
Experience with ISO 9001 quality management systems.
ASQ certification (CQE, CQM/OE, or CQA).
Experience in automotive, electric vehicle, low-speed vehicle, or powersports manufacturing.
Supplier quality management experience.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment
Ability to stand and walk frequently throughout the manufacturing facility.
Ability to occasionally bend, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 25 pounds.
Comfortable working in an active manufacturing environment around production equipment.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Occasional travel to customer and supplier locations, including overnight travel.

Why Join Columbia Vehicle Group?
At Columbia Vehicle Group, we believe quality starts with strong leadership and a commitment to doing things right the first time. As our Quality Manager, you will have the opportunity to directly influence manufacturing performance, develop a strong quality-focused team, and drive meaningful improvements across our operations.
If you are a hands-on quality leader who thrives on solving problems, developing people, and driving measurable results, we encourage you to apply and help us continue building vehicles we are proud to stand behind!