The Whittan Group
Quality Assurance Manager
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Milton Keynes
Full time
Permanent
Quality Assurance Manager
Location: Milton Keynes Full Time | Permanent
The Whittan Group is the largest manufacturer of steel storage products in the United Kingdom. Operating through a number of market-leading brands, we design, manufacture and install storage solutions for commercial and industrial environments across the UK and Europe.
As we continue to grow, we are looking for an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead our Quality function and drive excellence across our manufacturing operations.
About The Role
Reporting to the Group Operations Director, you will be responsible for leading all aspects of Quality Assurance across manufacturing and customer support activities. You will establish and develop a dedicated Quality team, ensuring products consistently meet customer expectations, industry standards and regulatory requirements.
This is a pivotal leadership role focused on defect prevention, reducing the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), improving customer satisfaction, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement throughout the business.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Assurance
- Lead and develop the Quality team responsible for factory quality assurance and customer support.
- Ensure independent inspection and verification of production activities throughout manufacture.
- Develop and implement in-process inspection plans across fabrication, welding, roll forming, powder coating and assembly.
- Conduct layered process audits and manufacturing quality audits.
- Lead root cause investigations and drive effective corrective actions.
- Reduce internal defects through proactive quality assurance activities.
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Customer Quality
- Own the customer complaint process.
- Lead 8D investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Conduct customer site visits where required.
- Analyse warranty claims and field failures.
- Drive lessons learned back into manufacturing processes.
- Improve customer satisfaction through rapid containment and permanent corrective actions.
Quality Management Systems
- Support and continually improve the ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
- Lead internal and external audits.
- Manage CAPA processes and document control systems.
- Ensure procedures, work instructions and process controls remain current and effective.
Supplier Quality
- Approve, monitor and audit suppliers.
- Manage supplier corrective actions.
- Develop supplier performance scorecards.
- Reduce incoming material defects and improve supplier performance.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead improvement projects using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles, focusing on reducing:
- Customer complaints
- Scrap and rework
- Internal defects
- Manufacturing waste
- Process variation
- Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
Essential
About You
- Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing or Quality.
- Minimum five years' experience managing Quality within a manufacturing environment.
- Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001.
- Lead Auditor experience.
- Excellent understanding of fabrication, welding and manufacturing processes.
- Experience with Root Cause Analysis, 8D, CAPA and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- Ability to analyse quality data and drive measurable business improvements.
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Desirable
- Lead Auditor qualification.
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
- Lean Manufacturing qualification.
- Experience within pallet racking, steel storage or structural steel manufacturing.
- Experience using ERP and Quality Management Systems.
What You'll Bring
You'll be a proactive and collaborative leader who:
- Promotes a culture of quality, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Leads by example and inspires high performance.
- Builds strong relationships across all departments.
- Makes objective, data-driven decisions.
- Demonstrates integrity, professionalism and attention to detail.
- Is passionate about delivering exceptional customer outcomes.
The Whittan Group promotes equality of opportunity in that everyone who works for us and any job applicants will be treated equally, regardless of gender or gender reassignment, age, ethnic or national origin, nationality, race, colour, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
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