Director of Quality

Race Winning Brands (RWB) is the leading manufacturer of racing and high-performance parts sold to automotive and powersports markets. RWB is the preferred source for high-end pistons, engine blocks, cylinder heads, intake manifolds, connecting rods, crankshafts, clutches, transmissions, springs and other engine and driveline- related performance components. RWB markets its products through multiple prominent brands including JE Pistons, Wiseco Performance Products, Diamond Pistons, Trend Performance, Rekluse Motor Sports, MGP Connecting Rods, ProX Racing Parts, Dart Machinery, PAC Racing, RevMax, Haltech, TSI, and TMG performance. RWB sells to a diverse and unmatched customer base of professional and sportsman racers, engine builders, enthusiasts, OEMs, automotive and powersports dealers and wholesale distributors. RWB is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio with sales offices and manufacturing operations in strategic locations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. 

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for supervising all employees (Quality Technicians, Quality Analysts, CMM Programmers, Calibration Technician, Inspectors) in the Quality Department and is responsible for covering multi-sites. Key essentials of this position include maintaining a safe, hazard-free work environment, planning and assigning work, enforcing policies and procedures, maintaining product quality standards, and recommending improvements for inspection methods, equipment, operating procedures and working conditions.

This position shall ensure that Race Winning Brands products comply with established quality standards that meet or exceed customer expectations through the utilization of standardized work practices, quality processes, equipment improvements, and effective measurements. This position shall facilitate the reduction of the cost of quality by reducing waste created from defects, over-processing, or incorrect processing. This position is also a team representative in our pursuit and attainment of the ISO 9001:2015 goals of 'Customer Satisfaction' and 'Continual Improvement.

The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership

· Maintains a positive, team environment relationship with employees by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; initiating, coordinating, and enforcing company systems, policies, and procedures

· Displays quality leadership by providing succession planning and development of the quality team

· Maintains workflow of quality inspections by monitoring steps of the inspection process; monitoring personnel and resources; studying inspection methods; developing and implementing reporting procedures and systems; facilitating corrective actions; initiating and fostering a spirit of cooperation within and between departments

· Establishes daily and project related priorities and monitors progress; revises schedules and priorities as needed; resolves production, staffing, and resource constraints

· Ensures operation of equipment by coordinating required repairs, service, calibrations; evaluates new equipment and measurement techniques

· Provides quality KPI's by compiling, initiating, sorting, and analyzing inspection and measurement data; reports results to management

· Creates, implements, and revises systems and procedures by analyzing operating practices, record-keeping systems, forms of control, and budgetary and personnel requirements

· Maintains safe and clean work environment; enforces compliance with established safety policies, procedures, and standards to quality employees

· Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviews professional publications; establishes personal networks; benchmarks state-of-the-art practices

· Leading and implementing continuous improvement projects that drive cost reductions

Quality

· Maintain ISO 9001:2015 certification of Race Winning Brands Quality Management System

· Lead daily material review board (MRB) discussions

· Lead weekly customer claim discussion. Identify and assign appropriate actions to contain & correct, identify root causes and implement corrective actions

· Measure and track quality KPI's and cost of quality

· Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering to train, certify, and audit production employees

· Assist with creation of tools to monitor and document compliance to procedures including incoming quality assurance

· Facilitate Advanced Quality Planning (AQP) of new product and/or process

· Assist in the development and adherence of inspection procedures

· Ensure the calibration of all measuring and test equipment

· Maintain quality records in accordance with established procedures

· Able to train and use various measuring tools during quality inspections

Processes

· Improve productivity within the quality department while decreasing quality issues using lean tools including but not limited to:

o Support 6S

o Conduct root cause analysis of problems to identify appropriate solutions by using the 8D method approach

o Identify and decrease opportunities that create waste

o Identify and decrease process variation

· Help to develop and implement measurement systems to track and improve the processes

Able to create and implement work instructions for current and new processes

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Education:

Bachelor's degree preferred

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in quality management or related fields

• 5+ years in a leadership role managing teams

• Experience in ISO 9001:2015 preferred

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt is a plus

• Certified ISO9001 Lead Auditor is a plus

• Automotive tier 1 experience is a plus

• TS16949 experience is a plus

Computer Skills:

•Comfortable with reporting and presentation tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Word to communicate findings and recommendations.

•Proficient in Quality Management Systems (QMS)

Communication Skills:

•Demonstrates exceptional verbal and written communication abilities to effectively convey complex quality standards, procedures, and expectations across all levels of the organization.

•Builds strong relationships with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Engineering, and Regulatory Affairs, to ensure alignment on quality objectives.

•Leads quality-related meetings and presentations with clarity and confidence, adapting messaging for technical and non-technical audiences.

•Provides clear, constructive feedback to team members and stakeholders, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

•Communicates audit findings, compliance issues, and corrective actions in a professional and persuasive manner.

•Maintains transparency and consistency in reporting quality metrics and performance to executive leadership.

Other Skills (Technical, or Other special knowledge and abilities)

• Thorough knowledge of ISO-9001 quality system standard

• Thorough knowledge of total quality management techniques

• Thorough knowledge of common mechanical and electronic measurement equipment

• Thorough knowledge of calibration procedures for all measurement equipment

• Thorough knowledge of statistical process control techniques

• Thorough knowledge of the common processes for the machining and forming of metals

• Language, writing and computer literacy skills appropriate to support the documentation and analytical requirements of the quality system

• Verbal communication skills appropriate to support interaction with customers, suppliers and other RWB employees.

• Team leadership skill and cross-functional teamwork experience