Job Description
Continuous Improvement & Quality Manager Grand Rapids, MI | Onsite | $120K–$140 K + Bonus
Confidential Employer – Manufacturing Industry Overview: A well-established manufacturing company in the
coatings and adhesives sector is seeking a
Continuous Improvement & Quality Manager to lead plant-wide quality initiatives, oversee a 3-person quality lab team, and act as the right hand to the Plant Manager. This role will drive sustainable improvements in product quality, operational efficiency, and safety using structured problem-solving and Lean tools.
This opportunity is ideal for a
proactive, hands-on engineer or manager with experience in
automotive standards (IATF 16949) ,
Kaizen leadership , and process-driven environments. The company operates a 24/5 production facility with 50+ employees and supplies the automotive industry.
Key Responsibilities: - Lead all aspects of quality assurance and improvement across the plant.
- Manage and train three Quality Control Technicians (1 per shift).
- Own calibration and readiness of all quality testing and production instrumentation.
- Conduct internal audits and ensure compliance with applicable quality systems (ISO 9000, IATF 16949).
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions .
- Train production staff on quality standards and SOP adherence.
- Partner with plant leadership to reduce nonconforming product and improve on-hold inventory controls.
- Lead and facilitate Kaizen events , Lean manufacturing projects, and Six Sigma initiatives.
- Analyze plant data to identify trends and prioritize continuous improvement opportunities.
- Serve as a key voice in customer complaint resolution and quality-related communication.
Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field (required).
- 10+ years of progressive experience in quality or manufacturing leadership roles.
- Experience in coatings, adhesives, mixing, drying, or web converting processes preferred.
- Proven knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949 , and other Quality Management Systems.
- Demonstrated success using Lean, Kaizen, or Six Sigma to drive measurable improvement.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and project leadership skills.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (no sponsorship).
- Local candidates only – no relocation provided .
Why This Role? This is a high-impact role reporting directly to the Plant Manager, with significant influence across production, quality, and engineering. You’ll join a stable, multi-site manufacturer with long-standing industry presence, fast decision-making, and a strong operations team. Ideal for someone ready to step into a plant #2 role and own quality and improvement from the ground up.
Job Tags
Permanent employment, Local area, Relocation, Shift work,