Director of Quality

Director of Quality

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Upside Innovations is a manufacturer of aluminum ramps, steps, canopies, OSHA steps, coveredwalkways, and custom access products. We have been growing tremendously since Upside started in2009 and we continue to add new positions to our team. We are now part of SixAxis ManufacturingTechnologies which is fueling additional growth in our business.
Position SummaryAs Upside continues to scale, we are elevating our quality leadership to match the size and complexity ofthe business. The Director of Quality is the senior quality leader at Upside Innovations and a member ofthe leadership team reporting to the President. This role owns the Quality Management System and isaccountable for moving the organization from finding problems at final inspection to preventing them atthe source.
The Director partners directly with leaders in Operations, Engineering, Sales, Project Management andPurchasing. Rather than dictating fixes, the Director facilitates root cause analysis and reachesagreement with each functional owner on the corrective and preventive actions their teams will carryout, then holds everyone accountable for follow-through. This is a hands-on leadership role that directlymanages and works alongside a team of three Quality Inspectors.Success in this role means preventing field quality issues, errors caught at the point they occur, a clearlymeasured and declining cost of quality, and a preventive action program that the rest of the leadershipteam owns and supports.
Key ResponsibilitiesPreventive Action and Shared OwnershipBuild and lead a formal preventive action program that identifies and addresses risks before theybecome defects, quality escapes, or customer complaints.Facilitate preventive and corrective actions jointly with the functional leader who owns theprocess, so that the people doing the work agree on the solution, its owner, and its due date.Analyze trends in nonconformances, quality escapes, scrap, rework, warranty, and customercomplaints to target the highest-impact improvement opportunities.
In-Process QualityWork with Operations to establish operator self-checks, first article inspection, defined inspectionpoints, control plans, and mistake-proofing (poka-yoke) in fabrication, welding, and assembly.Shift inspector time from end-of-line inspection toward process verification, audits, and coachingon the shop floor.Partner with Operations to put verification controls in picking and shipping, such as pick verification, packing checklists, and pre-shipment checks, to reduce shipping and picking errors.Partner with Engineering to reduce bill of material (BOM) errors through review and release checks, design review participation, and feedback loops from errors found downstream.Participate in design reviews and pre-production reviews, and work with Engineering and Sales to flag manufacturability and quality risks on custom and non-standard projects before they reach the shop.
Corrective Action and Problem SolvingOwn the corrective and preventive action (CAPA) process from issue capture through root cause, agreed countermeasure, verification of effectiveness, and closure.Lead and coach cross-functional teams in structured problem solving.Manage customer complaints and returns, including containment, customer communication, and follow-through, with occasional visits to installation sites as needed.
Quality Management SystemDefine, manage, and continually improve the Quality Management System across the organization, structured around the ISO 9001 framework. Formal certification is not a current goal, but the system should be built so it could support certification in the future.Maintain controlled procedures, work instructions, inspection standards, and quality records.Ensure products meet applicable code, and regulatory requirements.Support customer and parent company audits and align with SixAxis quality practices where appropriate.
Welding QualityOwn the welder qualification program, ensuring all welders are qualified to Upside's WeldingProcedure Specifications (WPS) and that qualification records are current.Lead and support the CWI on staff in welding inspection, welder testing, and weld quality improvement.
Cost of Quality, Metrics, and SystemsEstablish a cost of quality model that captures scrap, rework, remakes, shipping errors, warranty,and field repair costs, working with Finance and Business Analytics.Define and report core quality KPIs such as quality escapes by source, first-pass yield, internaldefect rate, cost of quality, CAPA on-time closure and effectiveness, and supplier performance.Own quality workflows in , including task ownership, due dates, and escalation, soactions are visible to the full leadership team.Lead regular quality review meetings with the leadership team to review metrics, trends, and thestatus of agreed actions.
Supplier QualitySet inspection and quality requirements for raw materials, extrusions, and purchased components, and monitor supplier compliance.Partner with Purchasing on supplier qualification, scorecards, supplier corrective actions, and incoming inspection.
Team Leadership and CultureDirectly lead, develop, and work alongside a team of three Quality Inspectors, including setting priorities, inspection coverage, training, and performance reviews.Train employees across the company on quality expectations, inspection standards, and problem-solving methods. xzbcwsv Build a culture where front-line employees and leaders raise issues early and own quality in their own areas.