Quality Assurance Manager at Specialty Manufacturing Buyer LLC – Waterbury, Connecticut

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading and managing all day-to-day quality and production execution activities within the manufacturing environment. This role serves as the primary operational authority under the Director of Quality Assurance and is accountable for ensuring operators, inspectors, and quality personnel execute production and inspection processes in full compliance with company procedures, customer specifications, and regulatory requirements.

The Quality Manager owns the development, implementation, and maintenance of inspection plans, First Article Inspections (FAIs), and inspection data systems. This position ensures that quality standards are not only defined but actively enforced on the manufacturing floor. The Quality Manager is responsible for maintaining process discipline, reducing defects, improving accountability, and ensuring accurate and complete quality documentation.

Production & Floor Quality Leadership:

? Directly overseeing operators, inspectors, and inspector leads to ensure compliance with inspection plans and production requirements.

? Enforce adherence to all work instructions, inspection frequencies, and quality procedures established by the Director of Quality Assurance.

? Exercise stop-work authority when nonconforming product or process breakdown is identified.

? Ensure machines are not producing nonconforming products due to setup, tooling, wear, or operator error.

? Provide real-time direction and decision-making to resolve floor-level quality issues.

Inspection Plans & FAI Management:

? Develop, implement, and maintain inspection plans for all active production parts.

? Ensure inspection plans reflect current customer drawings, specifications, and QMS requirements.

? Oversee completion, review, and approval of First Article Inspections (FAIs) prior to production release.

? Coordinate FAIs with Engineering, Production, and the Director of Quality Assurance as required.

? Ensure revisions to drawings or customer requirements are reflected immediately in inspection documentation.

Inspection Data & Compliance Oversight:

? Own and manage all in-process, final, and FAI inspection data generated on the floor.

? Ensure inspection records are accurate, complete, and properly stored.

? Monitor data trends for recurring defects, process drift, or nonconformance patterns.

? Initiate corrective actions based on data analysis before issues escalate to customer impact.

? Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100 (if applicable), customer-specific requirements, and internal QMS policies.

Accountability & Corrective Action:

? Lead investigations into internal defects, rework, and quality escapes.

? Implement and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

? Coordinate retraining of operators and inspectors when performance gaps are identified.

? Escalate systemic or high-risk issues to the Director of Quality Assurance with documented data and recommendations.

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

? Performs other duties as directed.

? Supports audit preparation and continuous improvement initiatives as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCY STATEMENTS:

? Leadership – Ability to direct, manage, and hold operators and inspectors accountable.

? Decision-Making – Capable of making firm production and quality decisions under pressure.

? Analytical Thinking – Strong ability to interpret inspection data and identify trends.

? Process Discipline – Ensures procedures are consistently followed without exception.

? Communication – Clear, direct communication with hourly and salaried personnel.

? Conflict Resolution – Ability to address noncompliance or performance issues professionally and effectively.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

? Required education: Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

? Required experience: Minimum 5 years in manufacturing quality leadership, preferably in metal stamping or high-volume production environments.

? Required proficiencies: Strong understanding of Microsoft Excel, inspection methods, GD&T, FAIs, inspection planning, corrective action processes, and quality data systems.

? Required attributes: Assertive leadership style, high accountability standards, strong organizational skills, and ability to enforce compliance consistently.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position involves working in a manufacturing environment that is adjacent to the shop work environment. The employee must be aware of potential hazards, including, but not limited to, working in close proximity to moving mechanical parts, operating vehicles, exposure to electrical current, high temperatures, and chemicals. It is critical that the Quality Manager maintain situational awareness while actively engaging on the production floor to monitor operations and enforce quality standards.

The company has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document is not a contract of employment. The company reserves the right to change this job description, as it may deem appropriate.