Quality Systems Manager

JOB PURPOSE 

The Quality Systems Manager supports the Carrollton site quality management system and the teams responsible for supplier quality, measurement systems, calibration, material review and analysis activities, and quality-system support. This role ensures/support the effectiveness and continual improvement of the ISO 9001 and TL 9000 management systems; maintains audit and regulatory readiness; strengthens supplier and incoming-material controls; and assures the reliability, availability, and traceability of inspection, test, and measurement systems, including optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) platforms and associated software, hardware, and automation. The manager develops assigned engineers and technicians, establishes priorities and standard work, and partners with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Information Technology, customers, suppliers, and external agencies to reduce risk, improve quality performance, and support new products and process changes. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Supplier Quality Engineers and Supplier Quality Technicians 

• Calibration Technician 

• Material Review/Analysis (MRA) Technician 

• Quality engineers and technical resources assigned to measurement systems, including OTDR test platforms 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Lead/Support the Quality Management System. 

• Support the site improvements of QMS in accordance with ISO 9001, TL 9000, customer, regulatory, and company requirements. 

• Support document control, records, internal audits, corrective action, risk management, change control, management review inputs, and QMS performance metrics. 

• Support third-party, customer, and regulatory audits; ensure timely containment, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and effective closure of findings. 

• Promote practical standard work, process ownership, training effectiveness, and accountability across functions. 

1. Manage supplier quality and incoming material controls. 

• Direct supplier qualification, monitoring, audits, material validation, incoming inspection, supplier corrective actions, and supplier performance improvement. 

• Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, and Operations on supplier changes, dual sourcing, specification compliance, risk mitigation, and escalation of significant quality issues. 

• Use data to prioritize supplier development and verify sustained effectiveness of countermeasures. 

1. Own calibration and measurement-system governance. 

• Ensure inspection, test, and measurement equipment is identified, calibrated, maintained, traceable, fit for use, and supported by controlled records. 

• Establish preventive maintenance, calibration, verification, and out-of-tolerance response processes that protect product decisions and minimize equipment downtime. 

• Lead measurement-system analysis, capability improvement, equipment rationalization, capital planning, and implementation of reliable data-collection methods. 

1. Lead OTDR and advanced test-system support. 

• Provide management oversight for OTDR, EOTDR, optical switching, mechanical test equipment, MTS/Instron systems, related software, automation, and test-development activities. 

• Coordinate validation of new or modified test equipment, algorithms, programs, methods, and interfaces before production use. 

• Drive troubleshooting of hardware, software, and automation issues; engage internal experts and equipment vendors to restore capability and prevent recurrence. 

• Support development of testing practices for new products and advanced fiber technologies. 

1. Manage MRA and nonconforming-material support. 

• Provide direction for material review and analysis activities, including sample control, testing coordination, technical records, disposition support, and communication of findings. 

• Ensure nonconforming material is controlled and that disposition decisions are supported by objective evidence, appropriate approvals, and product-risk assessment. 

1. Drive data-based improvement. 

• Monitor quality, supplier, calibration, measurement, hold-tag, nonconformance, and equipment-performance data to identify risks and negative trends. 

• Lead cross-functional problem solving using PDCA, 5-Why, corrective action, statistical methods, FMEA, and other appropriate quality tools. 

• Define clear measures, owners, due dates, and verification criteria for improvement projects and report progress to site leadership. 

1. Lead and develop the team. 

• Set priorities, assign work, coach employees, evaluate performance, plan cross-training, and build technical depth and succession capability. 

• Ensure personnel follow safety requirements, company policies, standard work, and applicable quality procedures. 

• Balance daily operational support with strategic QMS, supplier, calibration, measurement-system, and capital-improvement priorities. 

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline; equivalent combinations of education and directly relevant experience may be considered. 

• Five or more years of progressive experience in quality systems, supplier quality, manufacturing quality, calibration, metrology, test systems, or a related field. 

• Demonstrated experience leading technical employees, cross-functional teams, projects, or formal workstreams. 

• Working knowledge of ISO 9001; TL 9000 experience is preferred. 

• Experience with supplier corrective action, audit programs, nonconforming material, root-cause analysis, corrective action, FMEA, SPC, process capability, and measurement-system analysis. 

• Experience with calibration and optical or mechanical measurement systems; knowledge of OTDR equipment, test software, automation, or fiber-optic manufacturing is strongly preferred. 

• Strong analytical, project-management, organizational, written, verbal, and presentation skills. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data-analysis/reporting tools; experience with QMS software, Power BI, Minitab, or similar applications is preferred. 

• ASQ certification, internal or lead auditor certification, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt are preferred. 

• Ability to travel periodically to suppliers, other facilities, laboratories, or customers as business needs require. 

DECISION-MAKING REQUIREMENTS 

• Set priorities and allocate resources for assigned personnel, systems, and projects. 

• Escalate or stop activities when product, process, supplier, regulatory, calibration, or measurement-system risk is not adequately controlled. 

• Approve or recommend supplier-quality actions, calibration responses, measurement-system validations, equipment priorities, and corrective-action closure within delegated authority. 

• Recommend disposition of nonconforming material based on technical evidence and designated approval requirements. 

• Recommend staffing, training, capital, software, supplier-development, and process-improvement investments. 

DIRECTION GIVEN AND/OR RECEIVED 

• Reports to the Senior Quality Manager and operates with broad responsibility for assigned quality systems and technical functions. 

• Provides direct leadership to supplier quality, calibration, measurement-system, and MRA personnel. 

• Works closely with Operations, Engineering, Research and Development, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Information Technology, Customer Service, laboratories, customers, suppliers, and certification or audit organizations. 

• Represents Quality in project reviews, equipment and software decisions, supplier escalations, change-control activities, audits, and leadership reviews.