E2 Management Consulting

Big Rapids, MI, United States | Posted on 09/01/2026

Quality Manager – Automotive Manufacturing
Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced automotive Quality Manager to lead the quality function within a union manufacturing environment. This position supports programs for Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Tesla, with responsibility for customer quality, supplier quality, corrective actions, audit readiness, and plant-wide quality performance.

The ideal candidate brings substantial automotive manufacturing quality experience, a strong background in plastics, and a demonstrated ability to lead an experienced quality team.

This opening is part of a planned succession process, as the current Quality Manager will retire within the next six months. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to transition into the position alongside an established leader and a seasoned department.

What You’ll Lead

The Quality Manager will oversee:

Four Quality Engineers

Three Quality Supervisors

Three hourly Quality Control Lab Technicians

The department works closely with engineering and production, with strong cooperation between the plant’s technical and operational teams.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the plant’s Quality Department and develop an experienced team of quality professionals

Maintain the Quality Management System and document-control processes

Ensure IATF compliance and maintain continuous audit readiness

Support quality requirements for Ford, GM, Stellantis, and Tesla programs

Monitor customer portals and maintain regular communication with customers, sequence centers, and customer liaisons

Manage customer complaints, containment activities, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions

Lead corrective-action processes, including NCT, QR, SPPS, and related customer-specific requirements

Address supplier quality concerns and assist with supplier corrective actions

Ensure production consistently meets customer, engineering, and quality specifications

Work closely with engineering on process changes, engineering changes, prototype builds, data collection, and reporting

Develop and analyze quality data to identify trends, prevent recurring issues, and improve plant performance

Maintain quality records, procedures, and required documentation

Provide on-site support to customers and suppliers when needed

Promote continuous improvement throughout the plant

Partner effectively with plant leadership, salaried employees, and the union hourly workforce

Maintain compliance with company policies, union agreements, customer requirements, government regulations, and applicable quality standards

Required Qualifications

At least 10 years of progressive quality experience in automotive manufacturing

Meaningful quality experience within plastics manufacturing

Demonstrated success leading and developing a quality team

Bachelor’s degree in Quality Engineering, Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a related discipline; equivalent experience will also be considered

Strong knowledge of IATF requirements, quality systems, audit preparation, and automotive customer-specific requirements

Experience managing customer complaints, root-cause analysis, containment, and corrective-action processes

Experience working directly with major automotive OEMs and customer portals

Ability to read and interpret GD&T, blueprints, and engineering specifications

Working knowledge of CMM operations, layout inspection, and dimensional measurement

Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities

Experience operating successfully within a union manufacturing environment

Ability to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, plant leadership, engineering teams, and hourly employees

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, database applications, and statistical quality software

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting Ford, GM, Stellantis, or Tesla programs

Experience with supplier quality and customer sequence centers

Knowledge of NCT, QR, SPPS, and similar automotive corrective-action systems

Experience supporting multiple plants or broader corporate quality initiatives

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Competitive base salary of $130,000–$150,000 plus bonus potential

Planned transition with the retiring Quality Manager

Established and experienced quality team

Strong working relationship between quality, engineering, and production

Direct exposure to major automotive customers and programs

Limited travel and a primarily Monday–Friday schedule

Long-term advancement potential supporting additional plants or progressing into a director-level quality role

RequirementsRequired Qualifications

At least 10 years of progressive quality experience in automotive manufacturing

Meaningful quality experience within plastics manufacturing

Demonstrated success leading and developing a quality team

Bachelor’s degree in Quality Engineering, Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a related discipline; equivalent experience will also be considered

Strong knowledge of IATF requirements, quality systems, audit preparation, and automotive customer-specific requirements

Experience managing customer complaints, root-cause analysis, containment, and corrective-action processes

Experience working directly with major automotive OEMs and customer portals

Ability to read and interpret GD&T, blueprints, and engineering specifications

Working knowledge of CMM operations, layout inspection, and dimensional measurement

Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities

Experience operating successfully within a union manufacturing environment

Ability to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, plant leadership, engineering teams, and hourly employees

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, database applications, and statistical quality software

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting Ford, GM, Stellantis, or Tesla programs

Experience with supplier quality and customer sequence centers

Knowledge of NCT, QR, SPPS, and similar automotive corrective-action systems

Experience supporting multiple plants or broader corporate quality initiatives

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Competitive base salary of $130,000–$150,000 plus bonus potential

Planned transition with the retiring Quality Manager

Established and experienced quality team

Strong working relationship between quality, engineering, and production

Direct exposure to major automotive customers and programs

Limited travel and a primarily Monday–Friday schedule

Long-term advancement potential supporting additional plants or progressing into a director-level quality role

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