Quality Section Head

Position Summary:

Lead quality assurance activities within the assigned Autonomous Production Unit (APU) to ensure product and process conformity with customer, regulatory, and Methode requirements. Manage the Quality Inspector team, drive rapid containment and structured problem solving, and partner with Operations and support functions to improve quality performance, reduce the cost of poor quality, and sustain a strong quality culture.

Key Responsibilities:

•Lead, assign, and monitor the daily activities of Quality Inspectors within the APU, ensuring adequate coverage and disciplined execution of inspection activities.

•Ensure effective implementation and adherence to Control Plans, PFMEA requirements, inspection standards, work instructions, reaction plans, and product-specific customer requirements.

•Monitor and analyze APU quality performance, including scrap, rework, first-pass yield, internal defects, customer complaints, and cost of poor quality; define and follow up improvement actions.

•Coordinate immediate containment and escalation for internal or customer quality incidents, including segregation, traceability, controlled shipping, quality alerts, and verification of corrective actions.

•Lead structured problem-solving activities using 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa, Pareto analysis, and other appropriate quality tools to eliminate root causes and prevent recurrence.

•Work cross-functionally with Production, Process Engineering, Maintenance, Logistics, Supplier Quality, and Customer Quality to resolve product and process concerns promptly.

•Support new product introductions, process changes, engineering changes, trials, validations, and PPAP activities by confirming quality readiness and compliance before release.

•Conduct and follow up on layered process audits, product audits, internal system audits, and workplace quality reviews; ensure findings are closed effectively and on time.

•Verify that nonconforming material is identified, contained, recorded, dispositioned, and prevented from unintended use in accordance with the quality management system.

•Ensure measuring and inspection equipment used within the APU is suitable, available, and within calibration, and escalate any risk to product conformity.

•Prepare and communicate daily, weekly, and monthly quality reports, highlighting risks, trends, recurring issues, and action-plan status to the APU Manager and Quality leadership.

•Support Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), continuous improvement, waste reduction, and process-capability initiatives while protecting customer and product requirements.

•Coach and develop Quality Inspectors through clear expectations, on-the-job training, performance feedback, and competency follow-up.

•Promote compliance with Methode policies, quality and EHS requirements, customer-specific requirements, ISO 9001, and IATF 16949.

•Exercise the authority to stop production or product release when conformity requirements are not met, and ensure proper escalation and documented approval before restart or release.

Core Competencies:

•Quality leadership and people supervision

•Customer focus and sense of urgency

•Analytical thinking and structured problem solving

•Clear communication, escalation, and cross-functional collaboration

•Decision-making, accountability, and attention to detail

•Continuous-improvement mindset and shop-floor presence

Qualifications

Required

•Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a relevant technical discipline. A technical diploma may be considered with substantial directly relevant manufacturing quality experience.

•Minimum 7 years of quality assurance or quality control experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably automotive or automotive components.

•Previous experience leading or coordinating Quality Inspectors or shop-floor quality activities.

•Practical knowledge of Control Plans, PFMEA, PPAP, 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa analysis, SPC, MSA, and corrective and preventive action methods.

•Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 requirements and internal, process, and product auditing practices.

•Good command of English, both written and spoken, with the ability to prepare clear reports and communicate quality issues effectively.

•Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office; experience with ERP, QMS, or manufacturing reporting systems is an advantage.

•Availability to work in a manufacturing environment and provide support across shifts when business needs require it.