Chemical - Plant, Chemical - Process Engineering, Chemical - Quality, Chemical Engineering
Required Education:
4 Year Degree
Kanto Corporation is seeking an exceptional Quality Operations Manager to join the company’s leadership team at an exciting time of change and growth. The company has an outstanding reputation spanning over 30 years as a successful manufacturer to the semi-conductor industry supplying highly regarded products of exceptional quality.
The newly enhanced quality role reports directly to the company president and is responsible for leading and driving all quality operational and quality management functions for the company. This position champions quality improvement efforts including plans, processes, policies, and procedures at all levels so quality improvement efforts will meet or exceed internal and external customers’ needs and expectations.
We believe our tradition of success over more than 30 years is because of our people and we offer an outstanding company culture that attracts and retains talented individuals. We offer a challenging work environment with substantial opportunities for growth and development. Open dialogue is encouraged and excellence is rewarded. The company offers a generous and highly competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, 401(k) plan with employer contribution, and liberal annual PTO.
SUMMARY
The Quality Operations Manager is responsible for the leadership and direction of all company quality functions and initiatives, including moving the quality management program and QMS to the next level, insuring ISO certification and regulatory compliance, expanding efforts to meet customer expectations, and leading investigations for all quality related deficiencies. This position serves on the company leadership team and promotes Kanto Corporation’s commitment to Safety, Quality, and Productivity in everything we do.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
Improve Quality fundamentals and strengthen organizational capabilities with enough standardization to produce consistent results and enough flexibility for continuous improvement, always advancing a quality-driven culture.
Build and Lead teams to improve formalized quality management systems and further opportunities for continuous improvement in a chemical process production environment across all company functions.
Lead Quality Management Reviews and Internal Audits, deploy quality improvement strategies and initiatives, identify and share best practices and lead cross-functional focused improvement teams across the plant.
Serve as a key member of the company’s leadership team.
Collaborate with R&D, Manufacturing and Marketing to ensure quality standards are integrated into new products so production performance and output meet required standards.
Lead teams to identify root causes and create corrective actions resulting from quality deficiencies.
Ensures accountability for delivery of functional objectives by providing leadership and direction to team members and managing to results.
Implements principles of performance evaluation and prediction methods to improve safety systems and product quality, consistency, and reliability.
Provide specialized technical expertise in support of the Quality program, including specialized inspection and testing techniques, quality training, statistical methods, audits, and quality tools for problem solving and assessment.
Engages and Interacts with company teams (Quality Control and Lab, Sales, Product Management and Customer Service, Production, Warehouse, and Logistics, Engineering and Maintenance) as well as Customers and Suppliers.
Serve as a key company representative with certifying, auditing, and regulatory entities.
Lead and manage the QA team; train, coach, and develop a collaborative approach in their dealings with each other and with peers, colleagues, customers and suppliers. Facilitates the development of long-range goals and objectives for quality team direct reports, and delivers meaningful individual performance evaluations.
Manages departmental budget and assesses productivity and cost effectiveness of the QA department; develops projects to improve efficiency, streamline processes, and reduce costs.
Assesses and helps ensure process changes and specifications meet customer product quality needs and regulatory safety requirements
Analyzes and interprets quality data, conducts research on product defects and recommends modifications in processes, products or quality standards where such appear to be warranted.
Leads root cause analysis of high cost and high frequency non-conformances, initiates corrective actions, follows-up, and resolves; includes quality process improvements (scrap reduction, rework reduction, due to process, product, material and service, etc.).
Oversee implementation of measurement tools that enable effective evaluation. Track, and report on all quality measurement systems and Key Performance Indicators.
Conduct, score and publish formal quality audits of raw material and 3rd party suppliers.
Monitors Change Management and assures compliance to internal and external requirements.
Oversees document management system, company quality control guidelines and procedures, other controlled policies and procedures, instructions, forms, and records. Assures the system’s organizational fluency and accessibility for all company users.
QUALIFICATIONS Putting you in an environment to succeed requires you bring with you the following attributes:
You’re a natural leader that people want to follow: Leading through influence is a critical skill for this role. The incumbent will have responsibility to lead the quality program for Kanto Corporation.
You connect the dots: A key factor for success is the ability to understand the Kanto Corporation Quality Program and to activate delivery of Quality as outlined in our Operating Priorities and Value Proposition.
You’re a talented teacher: Teaching is a key skill in this role, both overt and subtle teaching skills with mature emotional intelligence are essential to help us drive the changes required for success.
You’re a culture & change champion: This is extremely crucial to the Quality Manager role as the incumbent will drive a quality culture and be a change agent working closely with and across company functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Required
Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering or scientific discipline, or equivalent experience, plus 3-5 years in a leadership role in Quality Operations and Quality management required, or a minimum of five (5) years of experience working under a formal quality program, preferably in the semi-conductor industry.
Experience leading a quality department or team with both direct and indirect reports
Experience and advanced knowledge of ISO 9001:2015
Successful experience representing plant or company in external audits, inspections and field inspections
Lean Six Sigma, CAPA, 5 Why problem-solving training, 8D
High proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint is essential
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Preferred
Functional business experience in manufacturing, engineering or supply chain with a proven track record of working in multi-functional forums, project management, business process improvement and team leadership
PLEX (or similar ERP) software, QMS and Document Control Management software highly preferred
Professional Quality Management credentials (i.e. ASQ CMQ/OE, Six Sigma, Certified Auditor/Lead Auditor)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES necessary to be successful in the role
Statistical aptitude, attention to detail, and strong data analysis skills
Advanced knowledge and skill using quality techniques and tools especially SPC and SQC, their differences and their supporting tools and methods such as stratification, histogram, check sheet, control chart, Pareto chart scatter diagram, flow chart for example.
Skill and ability using FMEA, PDCA management method, 5 Why analysis, 8D problem solving process, and other tools and methods in Quality Management Systems.
Excellent communicator (verbal and written) and capable of interacting with different levels of the organization. Must have a high level of objectivity and integrity; objective minded to evaluate people and problems.
Polished facilitation, influencing, and interpersonal skills to manage and lead, demonstrating an ability to effect positive and professional interaction with internal groups and customers addressing problems and conflicts and move them forward to effective resolution
Must have strong technical and practical knowledge in plant operations and maintenance to effectively influence and lead in the following core competency areas: Quality Management, Quality Planning, Auditing, Supply Chain Quality, Continuous Improvement
Proven organizational and prioritization skills, both individual and in managing people and projects
Fluency in English (written and spoken)
Availability to travel overnight 10-20%
Sponsorship is not available for this position
Equal Opportunity Employer
NOTES:
Additional Salary Information: Competitive base and annual performance bonus. Generous benefit package and annual PTO.
About Kanto Corporation
Kanto is the leading reagent manufacturer worldwide. While we have continued to supply high-grade reagent products to customers in various disciplines, Kanto is also now known around the world as a leading supplier of Electronic Chemicals, Biotechnology Products, Diagnostics and Fine Chemicals.
In the United States, our primary focus is the semiconductor industry, to which we provide unmatched high-purity electronic process chemicals. Since Kanto started our high purity chemical research and development effort, we have led the process chemical industry in research and development investment, and we strive to continue to be the industry's roadmap supplier in Electronic Chemicals.
Through our Portland, Oregon operations we also supply Kanto's premier Reagents, Biotechnology Products and Fine Chemicals to U.S. laboratories, researchers and customers. Tens of thousands of reagents are used in both scientific research and practical applications.