Quality Manager

SBD is looking for an experienced and hands on Quality Manager to lead the continued development of Quality across the business.

This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with multiple areas across the business to strengthen Quality systems, standards and processes, while continuing to build a strong Right First Time and Quality First culture.

The successful candidate will play a key role in developing the Quality function, supporting continuous improvement, strengthening product and supplier quality, and ensuring Quality is considered throughout the product lifecycle.

This is a highly collaborative and practical role, suited to someone who enjoys working with people, understanding processes and turning opportunities for improvement into sustainable results.

The roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Embed a Quality First and Right First Time culture throughout the organisation focused on prevention, continuous improvement and learning.
• Build strong working relationships across the business and act as a positive partner to Operations.
• Be visible and hands on within the manufacturing environment, coaching teams and supporting improvement.

• Take ownership of the existing ISO 9001 programme, supporting SBD through the remaining stages of certification.
• Maintain and continually improve the Quality Management System ensuring it is practical, proportionate and embedded across day to day activities.
• Establish and maintain effective document control, internal auditing, corrective action and continual improvement processes.

• Lead the development and implementation of clear, documented, controlled product and process standards making them visual where appropriate.
• Establish appropriate first off / first piece approval requirements.
• Develop practical work instructions and ensure current standards are available at the point of use.
• Work with Operations to identify opportunities for defect prevention, process stability and process improvement.
• Ensure product and process requirements are incorporated into relevant training and competency requirements.

• Build on the Quality KPI's by developing a broader set to provide a balanced view of performance ensuring they are visible, understood and reviewed regularly.
• Establish appropriate escalation triggers for significant or recurring Quality issues.
• Lead structured Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations, involving the relevant functions and people closest to the process.
• Ensure corrective actions address underlying causes and are verified for effectiveness.
• Use Quality data, trends and analysis to identify priorities and drive sustainable improvement.

• Work closely with customer facing teams to understand and analyse quality related customer feedback, complaints and claims ensuring appropriate investigation and containment.
• Feed customer Quality learning back into standards, processes, training and product development.
• Develop supplier Quality expectations, performance measures and a risk based audit programme.
• Manage supplier non-conformances, returns and corrective actions in partnership with Supply Chain.
• Monitor supplier performance and identify opportunities to reduce recurring supplier related issues.

• Ensure Quality is involved early within New Product Development & Introduction (NPDI).
• Work with Design and Operations to establish product requirements, Quality characteristics, specifications and appropriate controls before production launch.
• Establish an effective Change Control process covering product, material, supplier and process changes.
• Introduce appropriate Quality planning tools and techniques, such as risk assessment, FMEA/PFMEA and Control Plans, where beneficial and proportionate to the product and process.

We encourage you to apply if you are someone who can demonstrate the following:

• Proven experience in a Quality Management role within a manufacturing environment, with a practical hands on approach.
• Strong understanding of ISO 9001 and experience developing, implementing or improving a Quality Managemen System, ideally including certification.
• Strong experience in RCCA with a focus on preventing recurrence.
• Experience developing Quality KPIs and process controls to improve RFT/FPY, reduce defects, rework and scrap, and drive…