QUALITY ASSURANCE & QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER

Based Port Elizabeth.

Join a large manufacturing, wholesale & retail Group that supplies the local SA market as well as selected African and European markets. In addition to multiple sales & wholesale Branches around South Africa, there are many retail outlets where the Group has a franchise type setup. The business is also an appointed Distributor for well known brands and due to its entrepreneurial spirit, is continuously expanding its business, both vertically and horizontally. This key position in the Group’s PE factory reports into the Manufacturing & Technical Director who is a main Board Member and heads up the factory which employs close to 400 staff. It is one of the leading manufacturers of their specialised product range which delivers high performance products. The factory continuously develops their production processes and upgrades their manufacturing facility to achieve the highest standards possible. It uses high-grade lead alloy and specialised additives with the applicable ingredients ensuring consistency of batches. They have customised their curing processes and apply patented moulding processes for lead straps. Sophisticated testing procedures are used. Their production plant is accredited with all the applicable ISO standards including for Energy Management (which is the additional ‘E’ in SHEEQ), is compliant to SABS as well as IATF Quality Management System and other specific systems. The culture of the factory is high performance, ongoing pressure, extremely demanding with highly motivated employees who enjoy the daily challenges of their respective positions.

The overall scope of the QA & QC Manager is to ensure quality of product leaving the factory complies with the highest standards of safety and quality specifications through the provision of technical support and monitoring services, whilst continuously evaluating performance and thereby honouring SLA commitments. The incumbent must understand the Customers’ needs and requirements (many of whom are in the OEM sector) and co-ordinate the employees efforts including communicating between Management and the Production Teams. The successful candidate will be detail-orientated to ensure the manufacturing production lines run smoothly and generates a consistently suitable output of products that meet quality and efficiency standards.

There are a number of major responsibilities, inter alia, in this very important and key position which include:

• To ensure compliance to quality standards on site – this will include value testing and using a large team of 28 Subordinates to do this. They include a variety of Quality Inspectors and their Assistants for the various Departments and Sections within the factory as well as Incoming Goods Inspector(s) and OEM/Export Inspector(s). This is such a critical position that the QA & QC Manager can immediately decide to stop the manufacturing line for any material reason, for example, health & safety or quality of product.
• Travel from the factory to the Corporate Head Office in Jhb, Branches around SA and to Customers to do audits which include auditing processes, quality and product etc. and put into place action plans necessary to remedy any problem that is found during the audit. The candidate must understand the quality concerns overall and especially in the marketplace whether it be with OEM’s, Wholesalers, Retailers and their Consumers (both locally and overseas). It should be borne in mind that the Branches are the eyes and ears for the candidate and are also instrumental in taking the QA & QC Manager directly to the Customer’s offices to resolve specific problems and then take the correct action at the factory.
• OEM & Export Function – additional quality control steps take place specifically for the OEM’s and export customers, noting that there are onerous penalties if the quality of product does not meet specific quality requirements. There is additional quality testing that takes place and is a critical responsibility for the QA & QC Manager in terms of exact specifications that have to be adhered to.

Requirements:

• B Sc with majors in either Industrial or Chemical Engineering and with Automotive Quality Control experience. In addition, a post graduate qualification in Quality Management or Quality Management Systems or similar. Experience required is not less than 10 years in a senior Quality Management role or in a Production Management/Manufacturing position. In-depth understanding of quality control procedures and relevant legal standards. Certification of quality control is a strong advantage (ISO 9000 etc.) and understanding of ISO’s generally including IATF.
• Excellent computer literacy as well as maths abilities. Working knowledge of data analysis/statistical methods and the use of modelling to understand variability, to give guidelines on manufacturing qualitative products projected into the future. This will result in understanding the different causality and correlation in their manufactured product and correcting quality problems therein. Detailed root cause analysis needs to be applied and structured problem solving arising therefrom. This will lead to a development plan to resolve problems including hazard operation studies and the application of a series of questions and answers related to quality and problems in the production process. An 8D Report will result from this. The need to understand PDCAR is required and then monitored in the automobile industry.
• A good grasp of lean manufacturing, especially to minimise waste and scrap as well as to increase efficiences and understand the processes involved. If the candidate has a green belt it would be useful.
• Ability to lead a large team and keep them motivated and focused. In addition, identify training and upskilling needs to enhance performance as well as work quality.
• Being a strong communicator is critical which will include interacting with staff at all levels (from shop floor who have a matric and upto management who have Master’s qualification).
• An eye for detail and results driven approach with knowledge of relevant business processes. In addition, the successful candidate must be able to think on his/her feet and make quick decisions as and when necessary.
• Proven leadership & management abilities, high energy, goal orientated, strategic thinker, assertive, able to work in a pressurised environment.

Apply on-line or alternatively phone Gerald Lilian on (011) 4841790.

Be advised that if you do not receive a response within two weeks from date of submission of your CV, then please deem your application as unsuccessful.