Quality Manager

The Structures Company is seeking a Quality Manager  in Columbia, MO. 

Position Summary

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading and managing the quality assurance and quality control functions to ensure that all products, manufacturing processes, and operational activities meet customer requirements, aerospace industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company quality objectives.

This role oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, applicable FAA regulations, customer-specific requirements, and other relevant aerospace standards. The Quality Manager works cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Operations to drive defect prevention, improve product reliability, reduce scrap and rework, and maintain a culture of quality throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Leadership and Management

• Lead the Quality Assurance department, including staffing, training, performance management, and resource planning.
• Develop and execute quality strategies aligned with business objectives, customer expectations, and operational performance targets.
• Establish and monitor quality objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and departmental budgets.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and zero-defect manufacturing.
• Provide leadership and guidance to quality engineers, inspectors, auditors, and technicians.

Quality Management System and Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain and continuously improve the Quality Management System in accordance with AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements, as applicable.
• Ensure compliance with customer quality clauses, contractual requirements, and applicable aerospace regulatory requirements.
• Manage internal, external, customer, and registrar audits, including preparation, execution, corrective actions, and follow-up.
• Maintain quality procedures, work instructions, inspection plans, records, and document control processes.
• Ensure effective configuration management, product traceability, and control of documented information.
• Support compliance with FAA requirements, including 14 CFR Part 21 or Part 145, when applicable to the organization's operations and approvals.

Manufacturing Quality Assurance and Control

• Oversee incoming inspection, in-process inspection, final inspection, and product release activities.
• Ensure manufacturing processes meet engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and customer acceptance criteria.
• Establish and maintain inspection plans, sampling plans, control plans, and risk-based quality controls.
• Ensure appropriate use and control of calibrated measurement equipment, gauges, and testing systems.
• Monitor manufacturing performance to identify process variation, recurring defects, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure nonconforming materials and products are properly identified, segregated, documented, dispositioned, and controlled.
• Oversee first article inspection activities in accordance with AS9102, where contractually or otherwise applicable.

Corrective and Preventive Action

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action investigations for internal defects, customer complaints, supplier issues, and audit findings.
• Implement and monitor corrective and preventive actions using methods such as 8D, 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).
• Verify corrective action effectiveness and prevent recurrence of quality issues.
• Analyze scrap, rework, rejection rates, escapes, and warranty or return data to identify systemic problems.
• Drive measurable improvements in first-pass yield, process capability, and cost of poor quality.

Supplier Quality Management

• Manage supplier quality performance and supplier qualification, approval, and monitoring processes.
• Oversee supplier audits, incoming material issues, corrective actions, and supplier development initiatives.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Procurement to ensure suppliers meet aerospace quality and delivery requirements.
• Evaluate supplier risk and monitor performance using quality scorecards and performance metrics.
• Ensure appropriate controls for externally provided processes, materials, components, and special processes.

Customer and Stakeholder Relations

• Serve as the primary quality contact for customers, auditors, certification bodies, and applicable regulatory authorities.
• Manage customer complaints, product escapes, quality notifications, and corrective action responses.
• Support customer source inspections, product acceptance activities, and quality reviews.
• Communicate quality risks, performance trends, and improvement plans to senior leadership.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations to resolve drawing, specification, process, and product conformity issues.

Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, statistical process control (SPC), and other problem-solving methodologies.
• Implement risk-based thinking, process controls, and preventive measures to improve manufacturing consistency.
• Reduce scrap, rework, inspection costs, and nonconformance rates while improving production efficiency.
• Use data analytics and trend analysis to identify opportunities for process optimization.
• Participate in new product introduction, process validation, production readiness, and manufacturing transfer activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Typically 5–10 years of experience in quality management, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality, preferably in the aerospace industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading a quality department or managing quality professionals in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality management system requirements.
• Experience with root cause analysis, corrective and preventive action, internal auditing, and nonconformance management.
• Hands-on experience operating Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM).
• Knowledge of engineering drawings, GD&T, inspection methods, metrology, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with customer and supplier audits, quality performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality management systems; ERP or manufacturing execution system experience is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• ASQ Certified Quality Manager/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA).
• AS9100 internal auditor or lead auditor certification.
• Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
• Knowledge of statistical process control, measurement system analysis (MSA), capability studies, and FMEA.
• Experience with aerospace special processes and applicable Nadcap accreditation requirements.
• Familiarity with FAA regulatory requirements, customer-specific aerospace requirements, and supplier quality controls.
• Experience with precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, composites, assembly, or other relevant aerospace manufacturing processes.

Core Competencies

• Strategic quality leadership
• Aerospace regulatory and standards compliance
• Risk-based thinking and process management
• Root cause analysis and structured problem solving
• Customer satisfaction and supplier development
• Data-driven decision-making
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Team development and employee engagement
• Continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Strong ethical judgment and commitment to product safety

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Primarily based in an aerospace manufacturing facility, with regular presence on the production floor.
• Requires collaboration with manufacturing personnel, engineers, suppliers, customers, and auditors.
• May require occasional domestic or international travel for supplier audits, customer visits, or quality reviews.
• Must be able to work in a production environment and follow applicable safety requirements.