Quality Systems Manager
Job Location: Cincinnati, OH or Fort Wayne, IN
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Precision Products Group (PPG) is a growing global leader in converting niche engineered materials for electrical, aerospace & defense, medical, and industrial markets. As a part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and quality, we are introducing a new Quality Systems Manager role to build our quality system capabilities and assist in scaling our operations across the enterprise. Precision Products Group operates across multiple company divisions and brands, which include Cindus Corporation, Paramount Tube, Breyden Products, Saylor Technical Products, and Euclid Medical.
We are seeking an experienced Quality Systems Manager to lead the quality program and continually enhance the processes and systems that support the manufacturing operations and drive superior quality across the enterprise. This role has both strategic and tactical components and will require a hands-on approach in partnering with the operations team, engineering team, supply chain, and customers. Being comfortable and exceling in a 'coach/player' capacity is essential, while being the leader of the quality program. This role will establish, govern, and continuously improve our integrated quality management system across all business units, with particular emphasis on compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Rev D standards. The Quality System Manager will be highly collaborative cross-functionally within the organization and is a critical resource for the company to achieve aggressive growth targets. Experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing environments, with hand-on experience with highly engineered materials is ideal.
Quality Management System (QMS) Leadership
- Develop, enhance, maintain, and continuously improve the enterprise-wide Quality Management System in full conformance with ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Rev D requirements.
- Provides leadership and support to each operating location and takes ownership of the full scope of quality systems management, including training and development of key resources.
- Serve as the primary management representative for all quality standard certifications, including interfacing with registrars, third-party auditors, and customer source inspection teams.
- Translate strategic quality objectives into measurable policies, procedures, work instructions, and control plans across all facilities and product lines.
- Drive and sustain a culture of quality excellence from the shop floor to the executive suite, championing a prevention-first mindset over detection and rework.
- Drives cultural and process transformation across geographically distributed teams.
- Makes decisions grounded in objective quality data while exercising sound engineering judgement.
- Identifies opportunities for improvement and leads Kaizen events to support and sustain continuous improvement efforts to achieve superior quality results.
Compliance, Auditing, & Certification
- Plan, execute, and manage internal audit programs; lead surveillance and recertification audits with external registrars for ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Rev D.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable regulatory and customer-specific requirements including FAA/EASA and prime contractor flow-downs (e.g. Boeing D6-82479, Lockheed Martin LMA-QA, and Raytheon RL-QA).
- Lead responses to Corrective Action Requests (CARs), supplier corrective actions (SCARs), and customer escapes; ensure root cause analysis and sustainable closure.
- Maintain document control systems and records management practices that satisfy audit trail and traceability requirements.
- Coordinate with operations and engineering to ensure that recordkeeping systems and documentation processes are developed and utilized by the production teams.
Supplier Quality & Supply Chain
- Partner with PPG supply chain to develop supplier relationships that de-risk the business, qualify new suppliers, support current supplier improvements, conduct supplier qualification audits, supplier performance reviews, and development activities.
- Coordinate with product development, supply chain, and operations to establish incoming inspection standards, first article inspection (FAI/AS9102) processes, and source inspection requirements.
- Collaborate cross-functionally in real-time with sales, product development, procurement and engineering to mitigate supply chain quality risk and respond to changing conditions in the market, including counterfeit parts prevention (AS5553/AS6174 compliance).
- Assist in resolving supplier issues related to quality and ensuring ongoing continuous improvement in the management of supply chain resources and raw materials.
Engineering Materials & Process Quality
- Provide QA/QC oversight for engineered and advanced materials including composites, adhesives, coatings, and heat-treated or surface-treated components.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to qualify new materials, processes, and special processes per applicable specifications.
- Oversee nonconforming material controls, deviation/waiver processes, and engineering disposition to prevent unauthorized use of out-of-compliance materials.
- Communicates quality performance and risks clearly to board-level and customer leadership audiences.
Inspection, Testing, & Metrology
- Direct incoming, in-process, and final inspection functions; establish acceptance criteria, sampling plans (per ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 / Z1.9), and inspection traveler requirements.
- Manage the Calibration and Measurement System (MSA/GR&R) program; ensure all measurement equipment is traceable to NIST standards.
- Champion application of advanced quality tools: APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and 8D problem-solving.
Team Leadership & Development
- Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing quality organization spanning multiple sites; define roles, critical competencies, and career development pathways.
- Establish and report quality KPIs to executive leadership: PPM, DPMO, Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), on-time audit closure, first-pass yield, and customer satisfaction metrics.
- Serve as the executive sponsor for quality improvement projects.
- Translates long-range quality strategy into tactical actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
- Instills ownership at every level of the organization; holds self and team accountable to the highest standards of performance and integrity.
- Builds strong cross-functional partnerships with engineering, operations, procurement, and program management.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Quality Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive quality management experience, including leadership roles, with at least 5 years in a senior or corporate quality leadership role.
- Demonstrated hands-on expertise implementing and maintaining both ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Rev D quality management systems.
- Expert level knowledge of AS9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015, and associated aerospace & defense regulatory requirements.
- Proficiency with core quality methodologies: APQP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, PPAP, 8D, and Lean/Six Sigma.
- Familiarity with government and prime contractor quality requirements: MIL-STDs and major prime flow-down clauses.
- Excellent analytical, data analysis, and problem-solving abilities.
- Highly skilled in communication, project management, and stakeholder management.
- Significant industry experience within aerospace, defense, or precision manufacturing environments.
- Direct experience with engineered materials – composites, specialty coatings, or similar – in a production or testing context.
- Proven experience in partnering across the enterprise to deliver strong quality management systems and develop a culture of high-quality performance.
- Proven track record managing successful external certification audits, with zero major findings.
- Experience with ERP/MES/QMS software platforms and statistical analysis tools (experience with Made2Manage or Winman preferred).
- Experience in both aerospace OEM and Tier 1 & 2 supplier environments (preferred).
- Familiarity with ITAR and export control requirements as they relate to quality documentation (preferred).
- Experience with digital quality transformation initiatives – eQMS, MBD, and model-based inspection (preferred).
- Background with composite structures, additive manufacturing (AM) materials qualification, or other emerging engineered materials platforms (preferred).
- Experience working within small-to-mid-sized companies that are PE-owned (preferred).
- ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CQM/OE), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) – at least one certification is required.
- ISO 9001:2015 / AS9100 Rev D Lead Auditor certification (RABQSA/Exemplar Global or equivalent) strongly preferred.
Up to 25% travel to manufacturing sites, suppliers, and corporate office. Valid passport required as there may be some international travel.
- Competitive compensation
- Robust benefits options (PPO and HSA options)
- 401K with company match
- Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Highly engaged culture that recognizes and rewards high performance
- Opportunities for career progression and to make immediate impacts on our business
