Assistant Quality Manager

Our client, a Japanese trading company, is seeking an Assistant Quality Manager for its Supply Chain Department in Farmington Hills, MI.

Travel required approximately 10–20% (car or plane)

Position Summary

This position is responsible for developing automotive parts for OEM customers as a Tier 1 supplier, ensuring quality in mass production, and maintaining a stable supply chain from a quality control perspective. The role oversees quality control, quality assurance, and handling of part quality issues in accordance with OEM quality standards.

The position ensures sustainable and efficient production quality through close communication with customers and suppliers, management of PPAP activities, corrective actions for product defects, and implementation of KAIZEN initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Visit customers and suppliers for meetings
• Optimize supply chain and improve cost efficiency
• Achieve optimal quality control in production processes
• Address quality defects and lead quality improvement activities
• Maintain high supplier evaluation ratings and promote customer satisfaction initiatives
• Improve internal business processes
• Supervisory Responsibilities
• No direct reports at this time. However, the role may involve team-building initiatives to enhance organizational performance as business needs evolve.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of problem-solving tools such as 8D, PDCA, 5 Whys, and 4M
• Ability to perform all essential duties effectively
• Education and Experience
• Preferred background in Quality Engineering, Process Engineering, or related fields
• 9–12 years of experience in Quality Control

Computer Skills

Proficiency in MS Office, with intermediate or higher Excel skills

Language Skills

• Ability to understand written and verbal instructions
• Strong professional communication skills
• Chinese and Japanese language skills are a plus

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to perform basic arithmetic operations, work with percentages, fractions, and ratios
• Reasoning Ability
• Ability to apply logical thinking and common sense to follow written, verbal, and diagram-based instructions
• Special Requirements
• Experience working with IATF, ISO 9000, and ISO 14001 standards
• Experience using OEM customer quality portals
• Physical Demands
• Frequent walking, standing, speaking, and hearing
• Occasional typing, reaching, driving, and lifting up to 20 pounds
• Ability to sit for extended periods and work at a computer monitor
• Close, distance, peripheral vision, and depth perception required