Quality Manager

Gardner Aerospace are one of the largest international independent manufacturers of metallic aerospace detailed parts. We are currently recruiting a Quality Manager for our Consett site.

Working Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm (30 minutes unpaid for lunch), Friday, 8am to 1pm

Purpose of role and key accountabilities:

• Lead the site’s quality team to support business development and growth throughout the company through the establishment and implementation of quality systems, procedures and processes in line with Group Policy and Group business management system.
  
  
• Actively promote and drive a Quality Culture throughout the organisation by assisting management in developing the appropriate level of skills and knowledge (focussed on Q) in the wider operational teams to support the ongoing requirements of the business as well as supporting the continuous review and assessment of efficient and effective business processes
  
  
• Ensure the representative metrics on Quality performance encompassing TCOQ, customer satisfaction, process efficiency are set-up, up to date, understood, managed, communicated throughout the organisation at the right levels and used as input for continuous improvement activities
  
  
• Ensure effective feedback loops to the shop floor for internal and external quality concerns, the efficient management of issues through SQCDP meetings and their timely resolution
  
  
• Support the wider business (site) with expertise in and deployment of lean principles, problem solving, advanced quality tools and techniques (e.g. 8D, DMAIC, 5Why, APQP principles, SPC etc.)
  
  
• Facilitate and/or lead improvement projects throughout the organisation in collaboration with other functions, Group quality and Group business excellence
  
  
• Support, with the team, NPI, ToW and major industrial change projects by applying APQP in line with the group process
  
  
• Ensure a robust and dynamic audit schedule is in place and managed with effective management of the findings
  
  
• Ensure there is a clear control strategy in place in line with group guidelines, translated in robust dynamic control plans supporting the operational needs of the business
  
  
• Organise the inspection teams to ensure consistent performance and support of the site operational needs
  
  
• Act as focal point of contact and liaison with external bodies on matters relating to the company’s quality system and associated approvals
  
  
• Review the skills base of the quality team, identify any skills gaps and implement corrective actions to address them
  
  
• Ensure that legal compliance is observed in all quality related activities
  
  
• Provide and organize technical support for special processes in support of the operations and engineering teams
  
  
• Support calibration activity of equipment to ensure compliance at all times
  
  
• Work in conjunction with the site management team, identifying opportunities to implement best practice and support any reasonable request from management
  
  Core skills/attributes needed:
  
  

• Senior Quality professional with a first experience in a similar role
  
  
• Good knowledge of international standards for quality management systems (AS9100, ISO9001)
  
  
• Highly proficient in reading, understanding and applying technical documentation such as drawings, technical specifications, standards etc.
  
  
• Experience in special processes (heat treatment, chemical processing, welding, nonconventional machining, NDT), process qualification processes, approvals (e.g. customer, NADCAP) and process audits
  
  
• Familiar with the planning (routing development) and manufacturing engineering processes
  
  
• Experience in a highly regulated industry, preferably Aerospace
  
  
• Experience with inspection techniques and developing/implementing control strategies
  
  
• Very strong knowledge of problem analysis methodologies (i.e. 8D, Ishikawa, 5Why, DoE, DMAIC, Kepner Tregoe, etc.)
  
  
• Experience in APQP and NPI and associated deliverables
  
  
• Working experience with ERP systems
  
  
• People manager with strong leadership and communication skills covering all levels of the organisation and ability to work in cross functional teams
  
  
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritise and meet deadlines in a fastpaced environment
  
  
• Strong analytical skills
  
  
• Excellent IT Skills
  
  Measurable performance indicators/objectives of role:
  
  
• Improved Quality performance (both internal and external) across the sites
  
  
• Consistent delivery and achievement of quality assured products supplied to customers
  
  
• Sustained external approvals and certification to ensure business continuity and growth
  
  
• Approvals and certification up to date with minimal findings from external certification audits
  
  
• A fully described, up to date and managed business process management system in place driving efficiency through the organisation
  
  
• Robust and dynamic internal audit schedule in place and managed
  
  
• On quality and on time inspection performance supporting the operational needs
  
  
• Delivery of specific business improvement projects (i.e. cost reductions, efficiency improvements etc.)
  
  
• Achievement of targets in line with business plan