Quality Assurance Manager in Defiance, Ohio at Decked LLC

General Summary: DECKED is currently seeking an experienced Quality Assurance (QA) Manager. This position is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and enforcing quality standards across structural assembly, coating/finish, and final fitment operations. Must be highly skilled in building a culture of zero defects through rigorous process control, robust validation, and team leadership.

Essential Job Functions:

• Establishes and maintains line-specific Control Plans, inspection standards, and quality procedures; partners with engineering to provide shop-floor inputs into PFMEAs and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• Validates specialized manufacturing processes including composite curing, bonding, welding, and paint/coating applications and leads 100% water-leak and seal integrity testing to ensure compliance with dimensional, functional, and aesthetic specifications
• Drives rapid containment and 8D/5-Why root cause investigations for line rejections, scrap spikes, and customer fitment returns to improve First-Pass Yield (FPY) and eliminate waste
• Conducts daily Layered Process Audits (LPAs), line-side product checks, and first-piece/last-piece inspections; tracks localized quality metrics (scrap, rework, defect Pareto charts) for plant leadership
• Enforces QMS document compliance on the shop floor by ensuring current work instructions, quality alerts, and temporary process deviations are posted, trained on, and strictly followed
• Coordinates with Quality, Core Operations to ensure all line specific inspection fixtures, gauges, and testing equipment are properly maintained, verified daily, and kept within scheduled calibration intervals
• Recruits, trains, coaches, and manages the plant QA/QC inspection team; establishes shift expectations, enforces safety standards, and maintains a zero-defect culture across all manufacturing shifts
• Partners with Quality, Core Operations and engineering to immediately log, contain, and escalate incoming raw material defects (e.g., resins, glass, hardware, coatings) to suppliers
• Meets QA financial objectives by estimating requirements; preparing budgets; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions
• Updates job knowledge by studying trends in and developments in quality management; participating in educational opportunities; maintains personal networks; participates in professional organizations.
• Accepts ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; explores opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• BS/BA degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of QA leadership experience in automotive, composite, fiberglass, or heavy manufacturing environments
• Deep understanding of quality core tools (APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC).
• Professional quality certification (e.g., ASQ CQM/OE, CQE, or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt) strongly preferred.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 standards).
• Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., Minitab, JMP) to perform Gage R&R, process capability, and data analysis.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace, and workflow platforms (e.g., Asana).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and conflict-resolution skills with a hands-on presence on the factory floor.
• Able to travel to meet with suppliers as necessary
• Strong interpersonal skills with exceptional conflict resolution attribute
• Work history that demonstrates a strong work ethic
• Adaptability & stress tolerance
• Team-oriented with a positive attitude and willingness to work hard

Compensation and Benefits:

• Compensation DOE
• Health, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, and life insurance
• 401k with match
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness
• Free water, decent coffee, nice people
• Vacation