Quality Manager (metallurgy)

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
The Quality Manager will be a hands-on, technically driven professional for a wire and fencing manufacturing operation. Process consistency and the correct chemical mix are critical to preventing defects such as rusting and coating delamination. The Quality Manager will understand the technical reasons behind these manufacturing issues, can investigate root causes, and will lead the department directly from the plant floor rather than behind a desk. Key responsibilities: Metallurgical & Process Oversight: Take technical responsibility for wire drawing and galvanising quality. Monitor wire rod chemistry, die wear, lubrication, bath chemistry, bath temperature, immersion time, and line speed control. Defect Investigation & Problem Solving: Investigate wire breakages, brittleness, scoring, coating failures, bare spots, dross, flaking, and white rust at the root-cause level (using 5 Why, Ishikawa, and 8D methodologies). Floor-Level Leadership: Spend your working day on the floor, in the lab, and at the lines. Be first on the scene when a quality problem stops production. Supervise and develop quality controllers, lab technicians, and the water treatment operator. Raw Material & Finished Product Control: Approve or reject incoming wire rod and galvanising chemicals against technical specifications. Set inspection points across multiple product lines (mesh, barbs, welds, and coatings) and sign off finished stock before dispatch. Environmental & Compliance Management: Oversee the industrial effluent treatment plant, ensuring strict adherence to water use licenses, municipal bylaws, and safe hazardous waste disposal. Quality Management System: Maintain and drive the ISO 9001 system, internal audits, and external certification compliance. Authority: Hold the direct authority to stop a production line or quarantine stock immediately when quality standards are compromised. Essential Requirements National Diploma, BTech, or BEng in Metallurgy or Materials Science. 5 to 8 years of experience in metals manufacturing, with at least 3 years managing a quality department or running technical metallurgical processes. Technical Expertise: Solid galvanising background with a thorough understanding of bath and coating control. Strong wire drawing background covering rod, dies, lubrication, and their effect on wire properties. Experience across a range of wire-formed and fencing products. Experience overseeing industrial effluent treatment within a galvanising or similar environment. Proven track record of implementing or maintaining ISO 9001 systems through external certification audits; trained internal auditor status is an advantage. Familiarity with relevant SANS standards and the National Water Act. This role will suit a Quality professional who is comfortable working in a rugged, hands-on industrial plant environment. A metallurgist that is data-driven, resilient under production pressure, and capable of holding cross-functional teams accountable.