Company Overview:
Universal Piping Industries (UPI) is a leader in the design, fabrication and installation of industrial piping & plumbing systems. UPI maintains a corporate headquarters in Troy, Michigan and a primary fabrication facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. With additional fabrication in Detroit, MI.
Position Summary:
Universal Piping Industries (UPI) is seeking a Quality Manager to lead quality assurance and quality control across engineering, pipe fabrication, and field installation for the company’s industrial piping, process, HVAC, and plumbing systems work. This role owns the quality program from project kickoff through turnover, ensuring welds, spools, and systems meet code, client, and UPI standards on complex industrial and automotive manufacturing projects. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, code-fluent, and comfortable working across engineering, fabrication, field, and client teams.
Key Responsibilities:
Quality Program & Compliance:
- Develop, implement, and maintain UPI’s quality management system (QMS) across fabrication shops and field job sites
- Ensure work is performed in accordance with ASME (B31.1, B31.3, Section IX), AWS, and applicable client specifications
Inspection & Testing:
- Create and manage project-specific Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs) and quality control plans for piping, fabrication, and HVAC scopes
- Lead source, in-process, and final inspections of fabricated spools, skids, and field-installed piping systems, including NDE/NDT coordination
- Oversee welder qualification testing and maintain welding procedure specification (WPS/PQR) and certification records
Non-Conformance Management:
- Own the non-conformance report (NCR) process, including root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action
- Track NCRs and quality holds through to closure in coordination with fabrication, field, and engineering teams
Client & Stakeholder Coordination:
- Serve as the primary quality point of contact for clients and their quality representatives during audits and inspections
- Partner with Commissioning and Project Controls to resolve quality holds and punch items ahead of system turnover
Documentation & Reporting:
- Maintain material traceability, mill test reports, and documentation packages required for project turnover and closeout books
- Track and report quality metrics, such as NCR rates, rework, and inspection pass rates, to UPI leadership
Training & Continuous Improvement:
- Train and mentor fabrication and field supervision on quality standards and procedures
- Identify recurring quality issues and recommend process improvements to reduce rework and improve first-time quality
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field; equivalent industry experience will be considered
- 7+ years of quality management experience in industrial piping, mechanical construction, or pipe fabrication
- Working knowledge of ASME B31.1/B31.3, ASME Section IX, and AWS D1.1
- Experience developing ITPs and managing NCR/corrective action processes
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for client-facing quality reporting and audits
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in automotive or heavy industrial manufacturing markets
- CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) credential
- Familiarity with Procore or similar construction management software
- Experience with HVAC and plumbing code requirements in addition to process piping
Core Competencies:
- Attention to Detail- Catches deviations from code, spec, and procedure before they become rework
- Technical Judgement- Applies code and welding knowledge to make sound accept/reject decisions
- Cross-Functional Coordination- Aligns fabrication, field, engineering, and client teams around quality requirements
- Communication- Clearly documents findings and communicates quality status to clients and leadership
- Accountability- Owns the NCR process through to closure and drives corrective action to completion
