Manager-Quality (Chandigarh)

Job Description:

1. Job Purpose

The Quality Manager will be fully responsible for the overall functioning of the Quality Department, including Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), process quality, customer complaints, supplier quality, audits, documentation, and continuous improvement.

The person will take end-to-end ownership of all quality-related activities, ensure compliance with company standards and customer requirements, and lead the quality team to achieve zero-defect objectives and improve customer satisfaction.

2. Key Responsibilities

A. Overall Quality Management

• Take complete responsibility for all quality-related activities across the organization.
• Establish, implement, and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS).
• Ensure that all products and processes meet defined quality standards and customer specifications.
• Develop and implement quality policies, procedures, inspection plans, and work instructions.
• Monitor overall quality performance and take corrective action wherever required.
• Ensure that no non-conforming product is released without proper authorization.

B. Incoming, In-Process and Final Quality

• Ensure proper inspection of incoming raw materials and components.
• Monitor in-process quality at every critical stage of production.
• Ensure final inspection and approval before dispatch.
• Establish quality checkpoints to prevent defects and rework.
• Coordinate with Production to resolve quality issues without unnecessary production delays.
• Maintain proper inspection records and traceability.

C. Customer Quality and Complaints

• Take full ownership of customer quality complaints from receipt to final closure.
• Ensure timely root cause analysis and corrective and preventive action (CAPA).
• Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Purchase, and other departments to resolve customer issues.
• Prepare 8D reports and other customer-required quality reports.
• Track customer complaints, rejections, returns, and repeat issues.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented effectively to prevent recurrence.

D. Supplier Quality Management

• Monitor the quality performance of suppliers and vendors.
• Ensure supplier evaluations, audits, and corrective actions are completed.
• Address incoming material rejection and supplier-related quality issues.
• Work with the Purchase Department to improve supplier quality.
• Establish supplier quality standards and performance indicators.

E. Audit and Compliance

• Plan and conduct internal quality audits and process audits.
• Coordinate customer audits, certification audits, and external inspections.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality standards, customer requirements, and statutory obligations.
• Maintain all quality-related documentation, records, procedures, and reports.
• Ensure timely closure of audit observations and non-conformities.
• Maintain the applicable ISO or industry-specific certification requirements.

F. Team Management and Accountability

• Lead, train, and develop the Quality Department team.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, targets, and performance indicators for team members.
• Ensure adequate manpower and effective shift-wise quality coverage.
• Review team performance and ensure timely completion of assigned work.
• Maintain discipline, accountability, and a culture of quality ownership.
• Ensure that quality issues are escalated promptly and resolved without delay.

G. Process Improvement and Cost Reduction

• Identify recurring defects, process failures, and opportunities for improvement.
• Drive root cause analysis using appropriate problem-solving tools.
• Reduce rejection, rework, scrap, customer returns, and the cost of poor quality.
• Implement preventive measures, mistake-proofing, and process controls.
• Monitor quality trends and implement continuous improvement projects.
• Work closely with Production and Engineering to improve process capability.

H. Quality Reporting and MIS

• Prepare and review daily, weekly, and monthly quality reports.
• Monitor rejection percentage, PPM, customer complaints, rework, scrap, and audit performance.
• Conduct regular quality review meetings with concerned departments.
• Present quality performance, major risks, and improvement plans to management.
• Maintain an action tracker and ensure closure of all pending quality issues.

I. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with Production, Purchase, Stores, Maintenance, Engineering, Dispatch, and Sales.
• Resolve interdepartmental quality issues through data-driven decisions.
• Ensure quality requirements are understood and followed by all departments.
• Participate in new product development, trials, process validation, and change management, where applicable.

3. Decision-Making Authority

The Quality Manager will have the authority to:

• Stop or hold production when a significant quality risk is identified, following company escalation procedures.
• Hold, reject, or quarantine non-conforming materials and products.
• Prevent dispatch of products that do not meet approved quality requirements.
• Initiate corrective and preventive actions across relevant departments.
• Escalate critical quality risks directly to senior management.
• Recommend supplier corrective actions, process changes, training, and quality-related investments.

Product concessions, deviations, or releases outside approved specifications must follow the company's formal authorization process.

4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Quality Manager will be evaluated on:

• Reduction in internal rejection and rework.
• Reduction in customer complaints and customer rejection.
• Reduction in supplier rejection.
• Timely closure of customer complaints and CAPA.
• Audit compliance and timely closure of audit findings.
• Improvement in first-pass yield and process quality.
• Reduction in scrap and cost of poor quality.
• Accuracy and timely submission of quality reports.
• Team productivity, training, and adherence to quality procedures.
• Effectiveness of corrective actions and prevention of repeat defects.

Specific targets will be agreed with management based on current performance, customer requirements, and business objectives.

5. Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Engineering or a relevant technical field.
• Relevant experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and Quality Management.
• Experience leading a quality team and coordinating with multiple departments.
• Knowledge of root cause analysis, CAPA, 8D, FMEA, SPC, and quality audits.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 and other applicable industry-specific standards.
• Strong analytical, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Industry-specific qualifications and experience should be finalized according to the company's requirements.

6. Accountability and Ownership

The Quality Manager will be the single-point owner for the overall quality function and will be accountable for:

• Overall product and process quality performance.
• Effective implementation of quality systems and procedures.
• Timely resolution of customer complaints and internal quality issues.
• Prevention of repeat defects and quality failures.
• Proper functioning and performance of the Quality Department.
• Timely reporting of quality risks and implementation of corrective actions.
• Continuous improvement in quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

Expectation: The Quality Manager must work proactively, identify problems before they reach the customer, take ownership until issues are closed, and ensure that quality responsibilities are executed effectively across the organization.

7. Final Performance Expectation

The Quality Manager is expected to operate independently within the approved company policies and delegated authority, take end-to-end responsibility for the Quality Department, coordinate effectively with all departments, and provide regular updates to management.

The position is responsible not only for detecting defects but also for preventing them, improving processes, developing the team, and ensuring sustainable quality performance.