Job Title: Quality Manager
Location: Bristol, IN
Reports To: General Manager, Suites
Department: Quality
Role Overview
The Quality Manager is responsible for building, leading, and maintaining a quality system that ensures our trailers meet internal standards, customer expectations, and applicable regulations. This role is hands-on and visible on the shop floor. The Quality Manager partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production to prevent defects, solve problems at the root cause, and continuously improve how we build product. This person will also help to drive warranty claims or issues to long term solutions in engineering and production.
This is not a desk-only role. Success comes from strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to balance quality, safety, and production realities.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Systems & Compliance
Own and maintain the plant Quality Management System, including procedures, work instructions, and records
Ensure compliance with applicable standards and regulations (DOT, FMVSS, ISO if applicable, and internal requirements)
Lead internal audits and support customer, supplier, and regulatory audits
Establish and track key quality metrics such as defects, scrap, rework, and warranty issues
Production & Process Quality
Partner with Production and Engineering to ensure quality is built into processes, not inspected in at the end
Develop and enforce inspection plans, control plans, and testing requirements for in-process and final product
Act as the final authority on quality holds, quality alerts, nonconforming material, and disposition decisions
Support new product launches and engineering changes with appropriate quality planning
Corrective Action & Continuous Improvement
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions using structured problem-solving tools
Drive corrective action for internal defects, customer complaints, and warranty issues
Identify trends and proactively address systemic issues
Support and participate in continuous improvement initiatives across the plant
Supplier Quality
Work with Purchasing and Supply Chain to establish supplier quality expectations
Support supplier audits, performance reviews, and corrective actions
Manage incoming inspection requirements and risk-based inspection strategies
Leadership & Team Development
Lead and develop Quality Inspectors and Quality Technicians
Set clear expectations, provide coaching, and hold the team accountable
Promote a culture where quality and safety are everyone's responsibility
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related field, or equivalent experience
5+ years of quality experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in fabrication, welding, or assembly
Working knowledge of quality tools such as root cause analysis, corrective action, SPC, and audits
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and how quality decisions impact production
Preferred
Experience in trailer, vehicle, or heavy equipment manufacturing
Familiarity with DOT, FMVSS, and regulatory compliance related to trailers
Experience with ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems
Quality certifications such as CQE, CQA, or Six Sigma
Skills & Attributes
Comfortable on the shop floor and confident working with production teams
Able to make tough calls while maintaining strong working relationships
Clear communicator who can explain quality issues in practical terms
Organized, detail-oriented, and disciplined in follow-through
Strong sense of ownership and accountability
What Success Looks Like
Reduced defects, scrap, and rework
Fewer escapes and warranty issues reaching customers
Clear, consistent quality processes that production trusts and follows
A quality team that is engaged, respected, and effective
Quality viewed as a partner to operations, not an obstacle