A Quality Manager is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining a company's quality management system to ensure products and services meet regulatory and customer requirements. This role leads continuous improvement, manages audits and coaches teams to uphold high standards across production and service lines.
Quality Manager Job Profile
The Quality Manager oversees the organisation and delivery of quality assurance and quality control activities. They ensure compliance with statutory regulations and industry standards while driving improvements in processes, product reliability and customer satisfaction.
Reporting to senior management, the role requires collaboration with production, engineering and supply chain teams to reduce defects, control non-conformances and implement corrective actions effectively.
Quality Manager Job Description
The Quality Manager designs, maintains and continually improves the quality management system. They prepare for and lead internal and external audits, manage supplier quality, and ensure that documentation meets regulatory requirements. The role includes analysing quality data to identify trends, root causes and opportunities for process improvement.
They develop quality plans, inspection protocols and test procedures, and authorise release of products or services based on agreed acceptance criteria. The Quality Manager also leads training initiatives to raise quality awareness and capability across the organisation.
Key stakeholders include production managers, R&D, procurement, and customers. The role often requires hands-on problem-solving on the shop floor as well as presenting quality performance reports to senior leadership and clients.
Quality Manager Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop, implement and maintain the quality management system in line with ISO 9001 or sector-specific standards.
- Plan, coordinate and lead internal, supplier and customer audits; manage audit findings to closure.
- Analyse quality metrics and non-conformance reports to identify root causes and drive corrective and preventive actions.
- Define inspection and test plans, sampling procedures and acceptance criteria for products and processes.
- Manage supplier quality performance, conduct supplier audits and approve supplier corrective actions.
- Authorise product releases and hold materials where non-conformance is suspected.
- Lead continuous improvement projects using appropriate methodologies such as Six Sigma or Kaizen.
- Maintain quality documentation, record control, and change control processes.
- Provide training and coaching to staff on quality standards, good manufacturing practice and root cause analysis techniques.
- Support regulatory submissions and liaise with regulatory bodies where required.
Quality Manager Requirements and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, science or a related discipline or equivalent experience.
- Proven experience as a Quality Manager or similar role within manufacturing, pharmaceutical, food or services sector.
- Knowledge of quality standards such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485 or GMP, as appropriate to the sector.
- Experience with audits, corrective actions, CAPA systems and root cause analysis tools such as 5 Whys and Fishbone.
- Practical understanding of statistical process control, measurement systems analysis and basic metrology.
- Strong communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
- Certifications such as CQI, IRCA lead auditor, Six Sigma or equivalent are desirable.
- Proficient use of quality management software and Microsoft Office applications.
- Analytical mindset with attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement.
