Assistant Manager, Quality Assurance

Job Purpose

Plant QMS Lead:
This role is the Quality Management System (QMS) representative for the plant as well as the Plant Lead for the Internal Auditing program. The Plant QMS Lead oversees all QMS and Audit related activity for the plant, while consulting and advising departments and ACIE / CIE / Top Leadership on QMS gaps/improvements by summarizing and reporting QMS / Audit activity on a regular basis. This role is an active member of the N.A. QMS Committee and represents the plant as the SME. Additionally, this role also interfaces with the Global Honda QMS (G-HQS) committee as well as the Japan Quality Compliance and Audit Division (QCAD) for QMS compliance and monitoring of the internal audit program.

QMS Team Lead:
This role oversees the QMS operations for the team. The main job function is to lead the QMS team to ensure compliance to Honda’s QMS policies and procedures. This includes providing guidance and leadership to the team and to evaluate and provide direction for best practice. This role also represents the facility as the QMS Subject Matter Expert (SME) to ensure adherence and compliance with Honda policies and practices. The other main objective is to manage the Team’s quality performance through quality theme creation, progress monitoring, gap identification and root cause analysis/countermeasure activity for department, division, and plant initiatives to ensure optimal quality and continuous improvement.

Key Accountabilities

QMS Related:

• Plant Representative for the Global and North America Honda QMS Committees, contributing to the development and implementation of global and regional QMS procedures
• Lead and/or Facilitate plant level QMS/Quality committee meetings, driving the promotion and deliberation of changes to the plant level QMS procedures as the secretariat of the committee
• Develops new, and oversees the maintenance of, existing plant level QMS documents, ensuring global and regional requirements are incorporated and properly communicated throughout the plant
• Liaison to the plant ACIE/CIE roles, advising them on QMS activities and implementing their requests to support continuous improvement and best practices among the QMS/Quality Committee
• Provide technical QMS consultation for all departments as the plant SME

Auditing Related:

• Lead the preparation and execution of External Audits for ISO 9001 Certification as well as Honda Compliance audits, representing the plant as the Subject Matter Expert
• Determine the scope of the internal audit program and develop the annual audit plan for the plant each Ki to be utilized by the internal auditors to confirm adherence to policies and best practices
• Manage the audit program results by validating findings, reviewing the internal auditors audit reports for accuracy, and ensuring progress toward the closure of audit findings by the required deadlines
• Evaluate Root Cause Analysis and Initial / Re-occurrence prevention countermeasures resulting from plant level audits to ensure effectiveness of all corrective actions
• Facilitate the training certification process for internal quality auditors, monitor their competence progression, and provide supplemental training as needed

Reporting Related:

• Summarize and report the annual audit schedule progress and overall results to Top Mgt, including both External/Internal Audit as well as QCAD Monitoring audit findings and corrective actions implemented
• Report overall plant QMS condition to Top Mgt, including gaps and improvement initiatives, to advise on BOP Theme considerations
• Complete BOP Theme and CAP-DO scorecard roll up, progress monitoring, and gap analysis
• Create, implement, and maintain quality system reporting formats that can be utilized by all departments for consistency in Top Mgt reports

QMS Team Lead

• Provide leadership and guidance for the team, setting direction and ensuring proper prioritization
• Manage manpower allocation within the team to ensure all activities are completed accurately and by the required deadlines
• Advise team members on root cause analysis / countermeasure implementation ideas and execution as necessary for QMS / Audit related items
• Provide interface across all departments in the plant to maintain QMS compliance and consistency, facilitating plant level document training when necessary
• Approve documents and reports generated by the team, providing constructive feedback to ensure consistency and accuracy
• Lead Dept level business activities such as Business Plan themes, Budget, QMS Audits/Compliance activity, and development / implementation of new processes and procedures for the team
• Lead/Facilitate hiring activity for the team and responsible for on-boarding and completion of training plans as well as mentoring for technical know-how and long-term career development
• Sustain QMS compliance by ensuring the timely development, periodic review, and maintenance of documents and procedures for the Team
• Manage all aspects of the Performance Management process for the team, conducting 2-ways and providing both positive and negative/constructive feedback to foster growth and hold accountability

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience (relevant manufacturing, quality, and auditing experience)
• Lead Auditor Certification
• Minimum of 8 years of manufacturing / quality experience, including minimum of 1 year of related QMS and/or auditing experience.
• Knowledge of Honda’s Computer/Web-based systems (MS Office/Teams, IntellaQuest etc.)
• Knowledge of Honda’s Business Plan and Theme activity
• Knowledge of Honda’s Quality Management System (QMS)
• Knowledge of Honda’s SEQCDM guidelines / requirements within area of responsibility
• Highly motivated with positive, strong work ethic and initiative with the ability to self-learn
• Solid communication and presentation skills with the ability to share information and interact with multiple departments
• Ability to prepare information and present to large groups, including various levels of associates up to Top Leadership
• Excellent time management and organization skills with the ability to multi-task
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond quickly and effectively to rapidly changing priorities and/or special requests
• Effective leadership skills, with the ability to work in Teams and lead special projects cross functionally
• Strong critical thinking skills and problem-solving methodology
• Demonstrate the initiative and ability to make solid decisions under pressure

Working Conditions

• This position works in an open office environment and requires primarily desk work, including frequent meetings, as well as occasional production floor visits for audit related support.
• Travel may be necessary for NA QMS Committee Quarterly meetings and/or travel to other plants for QMS Audit support.
• OT necessary to complete task deadlines for BOP/Theme scorecards as well as occasional TV meetings with Japan QCAD or internal plant meetings related to Audit activity/reporting to meet necessary NCR deadlines.