Head of Quality - Electronics - N Bucks

My clients in North Bucks have an immediate requirement for a Head of Quality - Electronics.

This role is commutable from Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, St. Neots, Biggleswade, Sandy, Bedford.

My clients are a world leader in in the design, manufacture and continuous improvement of wireless condition monitoring solutions. Their technology is used in 35 countries in rail, construction and mining. More than 30,000 sensors were installed last year, helping users manage ground and structural movement, landslide risk, geotechnical behaviour, rail track movement and much more.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:
You will take a lead role in managing the Company's Quality Management System to ensure that customers receive product to the highest standard of quality possible. You will be involved in facilitating successful new product introduction through the manufacturing facility. The role also requires driving continuous improvement throughout the organisation ensuring that problems are prevented, whilst always ensuring a customer focus throughout the organisation, and ensuring product is correctly released to necessary standards.

This role reports to the Head of Operations and has the following direct reports: Senior Quality Engineer, Junior NPI Engineer and Quality Engineer (including HSE).
There may be minimal requirement for national and international travel, primarily to undertake supplier audits, evaluation and NCR Fault/Fact Finding.

Responsibilities include, although are not limited to the following:
Provide leadership to the quality department and team. Manage, develop, and motivate an effective Quality team.
• Manage all aspects of Organisation's Quality.
• Own and lead the business ECN (Engineering Change Note) Process.
• Work with Production, Supply Chain, Customer Support, Logistics to integrate Quality objectives into business objectives.
• Lead coordination with engineering, product management and operations to implement manufacturing plan for products.
• Own process to monitor status of all new products and ensure effective execution of projects according to required policies, procedures and government regulations.
• Prepare plans for all NPI projects and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain a strong relationship with Product Management to understand business product roadmap and status.
• Develop Quality Improvement strategies for the Organisation.
• Monitor Business Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), customer complaints, and other Quality indicators and drive projects to eliminate recurring issues as well as address special events in order to drive an overall improvement.
• Implement effective process and product control strategies such as PFMEA, control plans, Measurement Systems Analysis, Statistical Process Control, Production Part Approval Process, Layered Process Audits and Finished Goods audits where necessary.
• Ensure the auditing system is fit for purpose across the Quality Management System. Perform Internal ISO and Supplier Quality audits as necessary to ensure compliance with processes, policies, and expectations.
• Lead and train others to develop effective corrective and preventive actions using 8D and Mistake Proofing concepts in response to customer concerns, COPQ data or regular product audit results.
• Drive Quality consistency of procedures across all sites/hubs (UK, USA, Mainland Europe).
• Assist/help maintain all HSE facility related compliance.
• Lead, participate and facilitate various continuous improvement events and projects to support company goals and objectives. Partake and contribute to cultural change utilising appropriate continuous improvement tools and methodologies (Six Sigma, Mistake Proofing, Kaizen, etc).
• Utilise strong interpersonal skills to communicate and engage support for driving COPQ improvement across various functions and levels within the Organisation.
• Ensure that all process required for the Quality Management System are established, implemented and maintained.
• Chairing and organising Management Reviews with the use of established KPIs to ensure the continuing suitability and effectiveness of the Quality Management System and to assess any improvement opportunities for the Quality Department.
• Promote the awareness of customer requirements throughout the organisation and develop effective customer relations.
• Maintain and assist in developing systems required for Environmental Regulatory compliance.

Relevant Skills & Competencies:
Successful candidates should be able to demonstrate the following relevant skills and competencies:
• Continuous Improvement Skills such as PFMEA, FMEA, SPC, 8D.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrable organisational, planning and program management skills with careful attention to detail.
• Ability to build trusting relationships and communicate effectively at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities while working effectively in a team.
• Driven, with a focus on continuous improvement and ability to shine a light on problems and facilitate teams on taking appropriate action.
• Ability to communicate ideas with clear understanding of audience and gain commitments that are critical to the success of the organisation.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills.
• Good computer skills with competency in using MS Office suite and other software as necessary.

• Greenbelt, Blackbelt and/or Lean Expert Certification preferred.

Relevant Knowledge & Experience:
Candidates should assess their suitability against the following essential and/or desirable relevant knowledge and experience:
Essential:
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in an Electronic Engineering Environment AS9100, ISO 9000, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, TS16949, ISO14001 previous Quality Management experience, (Automotive & Military Customers, Supplier Management), plus having completed successful improvement projects