Quality Assurance Manager

Open 23d

Key Responsibilities

1. Quality Management System (QMS)

Lead, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the Integrated Management System (IMS).
Ensure compliance with applicable international standards including ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, ISO 14001, ISO45001, customer-specific requirements, and relevant food contact regulations.
Develop, review and maintain quality policies, procedures, work instructions, specifications and standards.
Lead Management Review meetings and monitor Quality Objectives and KPIs.
Coordinate internal, customer, certification, and regulatory audits.

2. Manufacturing Quality Assurance & Process Control

Lead all Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities across incoming, in-process and outgoing inspections.
Establish inspection plans, control plans, quality standards and acceptance criteria.
Monitor manufacturing quality performance and drive continual improvement initiatives.
Work closely with Production and Engineering to improve process capability, reduce variation and enhance product consistency.
Drive Statistical Process Control (SPC), Process Capability Analysis, First Pass Yield improvement and defect reduction.
Review and approve First Article Inspection (FAI), product qualification and process validation activities.

3. Customer Quality Management

Lead customer complaint investigations and ensure timely resolution.
Drive Root Cause Analysis using structured methodologies such as 8D, Fishbone, 5 Why, Fault Tree Analysis and Pareto Analysis.
Ensure effective implementation and verification of Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
Act as the primary quality representative during customer visits, audits and technical discussions.
Monitor customer satisfaction, complaint trends and improvement initiatives.

4. Supplier Quality Management

Develop supplier qualification, approval and performance monitoring programmes.
Lead supplier audits and supplier quality improvement initiatives.
Define incoming inspection standards and supplier acceptance criteria.
Collaborate with Procurement and suppliers to resolve material quality issues.
Monitor supplier quality KPIs including defects, complaints and on-time corrective actions.

5. Regulatory Affairs & Product Compliance

Ensure compliance with applicable food packaging regulations, customer specifications and international regulatory requirements.
Manage product compliance documentation including Declaration of Compliance (DoC), migration studies, material certifications and technical documentation.
Support regulatory submissions and customer compliance requirements.
Monitor changes in regulatory requirements and ensure timely implementation.

6. New Product Introduction (NPI)

Partner with Product Development, Engineering and Sales during new product development.
Establish quality requirements during product design and process development.
Lead qualification plans, validation activities and production readiness reviews.
Ensure robust process control during new product commercialisation.

7. Risk Management

8. Continuous Improvement

Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen and Operational Excellence initiatives.
Lead quality improvement projects aimed at reducing waste, improving efficiency and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Promote digitalisation and automation of quality processes.
Utilize quality data analytics to identify improvement opportunities.

9. Quality Data & Performance Management

Establish and monitor departmental Quality KPIs.
Analyse trends relating to defects, scrap, customer complaints, supplier performance and process capability.
Prepare monthly Quality Reports and Management Review presentations.
Provide strategic recommendations based on quality performance data.

10. Team Leadership

Lead, coach and develop Quality Engineers, Supervisors, Inspectors and Laboratory personnel.
Establish succession planning and competency development programmes.
Conduct performance evaluations and identify training needs.
Foster a proactive quality culture across the organisation.

11. Cross Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Product Development, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales and Customer Service to achieve quality objectives.
Support plant operational excellence initiatives.
Represent Quality in cross-functional projects and strategic business initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Food Science, Materials Science or a related discipline.

Experience

Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance and Quality Management within manufacturing.
Minimum 5 years in a managerial or leadership role.
Experience in packaging, food packaging, consumer products or related manufacturing industries is preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing Quality Management Systems and customer quality requirements.

Technical Competencies

Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
Good understanding of food contact packaging regulations and customer compliance requirements.
Proficient in quality tools including SPC, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, CAPA, 8D, Fishbone and 5 Why analysis.
Strong understanding of supplier quality management and audit processes.
Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
Experience in statistical analysis and quality reporting.

Leadership Competencies

Strong leadership and people development capabilities.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Strategic thinking with a customer-focused mindset.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive organisational quality culture.