Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Manager

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.

The Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the highest standards of product/service quality and driving continuous improvement initiatives within Machinery Manufacturing. Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining quality management systems, as well as leading efforts to enhance processes, procedures, and practices to optimize efficiency and effectiveness throughout the plant in all functional areas.

This position has four direct reports including the Quality Inspector, Store Room Coordinators, and Plant Programmer. The Quality and C.I Manager is a member of the plant Leadership Team which assists the Plant Manager with operating strategy development and overall plant performance responsibility.

Primary Responsibilities:

Quality Management:

• Develop and implement quality assurance policies, procedures, and standards to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
• Establish metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), and benchmarks to monitor and evaluate quality performance across all operations.
• Conducts regular audits and inspections to assess adherence to quality standards and identifies, implements, and maintains strategies for improvement.
• Lead investigations into quality issues, non-conformities, customer complaints, vendor issues, and implements corrective and preventive actions as necessary.
• Establishes partnership with the Production Manager on all quality related manufacturing actions to ensure leadership teamwork and alignment.

• Support quality initiatives to ensure product meets or exceeds customer expectations. Makes sure that associates complete required quality checks and are meeting quality reject metric performance.

Continuous Improvement:

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization, promoting the adoption of best practices and innovative solutions.
• Drives and teaches problem solving methodology in all functional areas of the plant.
• Jointly champions strategy development, execution, and sustainment of 5S implementation with the production manager.
• Assesses plant CI Impact Score and develops annual strategies for improvement.
• Identify opportunities for process optimization, waste reduction, and cost savings through data analysis and performance assessments.
• Facilitate and train cross-functional teams to analyze workflows, identify bottlenecks, and implement process improvements using methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, and other associate involvement.
• Develop and deliver training programs to enhance employees' understanding of quality principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Leads and promotes plant communications on lean accomplishments, key metric performance, and celebrating the success or individual or team victories. Leads the LT in tier 3 KPI dashboard performance and facilitates documented action plans for any shortfalls.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including production, engineering, supply chain, and customer service teams, to drive quality improvement initiatives and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Oversees that the Associate Feedback Database recommendations are addressed in a timely manner with results communicated.
• Communicate quality performance metrics, improvement initiatives, and recommendations to senior management and other relevant stakeholders through reports, presentations, and meetings.

• Foster a collaborative and supportive environment where employees are empowered to contribute ideas, share feedback, and actively participate in quality and improvement initiatives. Develop subordinates through timely annual reviews, on the job real time feedback, education, and training.

• Assists in preparation of annual plant operating budget and strategic plan including capital needs in a 5 year planning format. Become familiar with the latest machine shop technology and proposed capital strategies that will keep us competitive within the machining and assembly markets.

• Assists plant manager with employee relations and administers discipline with direct reports as necessary. Ensures that all labor concerns and issues are addressed in a timely manner and that the Leadership Team is promptly made aware of such concerns.

• Works with administration to ensure that our Attendance and other policies are consistently applied for accountability and effectiveness.

Knowledge & Skills Required:

• Proven experience in quality assurance, quality management systems, and continuous improvement methodologies within a manufacturing, service, or similar environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data to drive decision-making and process improvements.
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to plan, execute, and monitor projects effectively to achieve desired outcomes within specified timelines and budgets.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, motivate, and collaborate with cross-functional teams at all levels of the organization. A Servant Leadership heart with excellent listening skills is a must for this position.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to convey complex concepts and information in a clear and concise manner.

Preferred Competencies:

• Safety regulation knowledge

• Lean manufacturing knowledge

• Courage to make difficult decisions

• Cross functional challenge & collaboration

• Leadership experience

• Machine shop knowledge

• Above average mechanical aptitude

• Effective communication & Presentation skills

• Ability to influence others

• Project management

• Action oriented

• Customer focused

Education Required:

Highschool Diploma

Education Preferred:

Four year degree in Engineering or Business

Experience:

5 Years Experience in Manufacturing based CI, Quality, or Machining

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.