Quality Manager in Kilgore, Texas at Apex GeoTech Solutions

Position Summary

The Quality Control Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining quality systems that ensure all products manufactured at the Wilkes-Barre facility meet internal specifications, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards. This role provides leadership to the Quality Control team, partners cross-functionally with Operations and Engineering, and drives continuous improvement initiatives across the plant.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve the site Quality Management System (QMS).
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, and industry standards (e.g., ISO, ASTM, customer-specific requirements).
• Prepare for, lead, and respond to internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Own corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes, including root cause analysis and effectiveness verification.

Operations Support

• Oversee incoming, in-process, and finished product inspections and testing.
• Ensure accurate documentation, data integrity, and traceability of quality records.
• Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, and Engineering to resolve quality issues and reduce scrap, rework, and downtime.
• Review and approve deviations, nonconformances, and product dispositions.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop Quality Control technicians and inspectors.
• Set clear performance expectations and provide ongoing feedback and training.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, scheduling, and skill coverage to support production needs.

Continuous Improvement

• Analyze quality data and KPIs to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Support new product introductions, process changes, and equipment qualifications from a quality perspective.

Customer & Supplier Quality

• Serve as primary quality contact for customer inquiries, complaints, and investigations.
• Coordinate supplier quality activities, including qualification, audits, and performance monitoring.
• Drive resolution of supplier-related quality issues in partnership with Procurement.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Quality, Engineering, Chemistry, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline required.

Experience

• 5+ years of progressive quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 2+ years of people leadership or supervisory experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in chemical, materials, industrial, or process manufacturing environments preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of quality systems, audits, and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis tools (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone, FMEA).
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC) and quality metrics.
• Working knowledge of ISO standards and customer-driven quality requirements.

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to balance compliance and operational efficiency.
• Decisive problem-solver with a continuous improvement mindset.