Manufacturing Quality Director
GE Appliances · LaFayette
At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make “good things, for life.” As the fastest-growing appliance company in the U.S., we’re powered by creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there’s always a better way. We believe in the power of our people and in giving them the freedom to explore, discover and build good things, together.
The GE Appliances philosophy, backed by three simple commitments defines the way we work, invent, create, do business, and serve our communities: we come together, we always look for a better way, and we create possibilities.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and must be able to maintain such authorization without current or future employer or school sponsorship. GE Appliances will not sponsor employment-based visas for this position now or in the future.
Interested in joining us on our journey?
The Manufacturing Quality Director provides strategic leadership and oversight of manufacturing quality performance, ensuring operational excellence, product reliability, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. This position is responsible for developing and executing quality strategies, driving improvements in internal and external quality metrics, and reducing the overall cost of quality.
As a key member of the plant leadership team, the Manufacturing Quality Director partners with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Product Management, Supplier Quality, Technology, Distribution, and Service to establish quality objectives, resolve complex quality issues, and ensure alignment with business priorities.
The Director is accountable for manufacturing quality performance, execution of the quality operating plan, continuous improvement initiatives, and leadership and development of the Quality organization.
This role supports plant operations in LaFayette, GA.
Position
Manufacturing Quality DirectorLocation
USA, LaFayette, GAHow You'll Create Possibilities
Quality Strategy and Operational Leadership
- Develop and execute manufacturing quality strategies aligned with plant and business objectives.
- Provide leadership and direction for quality performance across manufacturing operations.
- Establish measurable quality objectives, performance targets, and improvement plans to support operational excellence.
- Partner with plant leadership and cross-functional teams to integrate quality requirements into manufacturing processes and business decisions.
- Drive accountability for quality performance through effective communication, performance reviews, and corrective action plans.
- Promote a culture of quality ownership, continuous improvement, and proactive problem-solving throughout the organization.
Quality Performance and Continuous Improvement
- Own and drive improvement of key internal and external quality metrics, including First Pass Yield (FPY), Cost of Quality (COQ), Service Call Rate (SCR), scrap, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and product damage.
- Analyze quality performance data to identify trends, emerging risks, and opportunities for improvement.
- Lead the development and execution of corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans to address quality concerns and prevent recurrence.
- Ensure timely containment, root cause analysis, and permanent corrective actions for End-of-Line Audit (EOLA) findings and other manufacturing quality issues.
- Drive year-over-year improvements in quality performance, process capability, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Champion Lean principles, structured problem-solving, error-proofing (poka-yoke), and proactive quality tools to reduce defects and improve process reliability.
Cost of Quality and Financial Accountability
- Own the development and execution of the manufacturing Cost of Quality operating plan.
- Identify and prioritize opportunities to reduce scrap, rework, warranty exposure, product damage, and other quality-related costs.
- Establish improvement initiatives targeting the highest contributors to quality losses.
- Partner with Operations, Finance, Engineering, and other stakeholders to evaluate financial impacts and deliver sustainable cost reductions.
- Monitor performance against quality cost targets and implement corrective actions to address unfavorable trends.
- Drive resolution of quality-related concessions attributable to manufacturing operations and implement strategies to prevent recurrence.
Quality Management Systems and Process Control
- Ensure manufacturing operations comply with established Quality Management System (QMS) requirements, applicable ISO standards, and internal quality procedures.
- Provide oversight of the Manufacturing Change Process (MCP), ensuring changes are appropriately evaluated, documented, approved, communicated, and implemented.
- Partner with the Change Implementation Board (CIB) and cross-functional stakeholders to maintain effective change control and documentation compliance.
- Identify critical manufacturing processes requiring control plans and ensure appropriate controls are established, documented, and maintained.
- Ensure manufacturing quality standards, procedures, and control plans remain current and are consistently followed.
- Support continuous improvement of quality systems, process controls, and manufacturing standards to minimize operational risk.
Cross-Functional Quality and Customer Support
- Collaborate with Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Field Quality, Distribution, and Service to resolve quality issues impacting manufacturing operations and customers.
- Partner with Supplier Quality to address supplier-related defects, assess proposed supplier changes, and ensure appropriate change control and production readiness.
- Work with Field Quality and Service organizations to identify emerging product concerns, evaluate field performance, and implement effective manufacturing countermeasures.
- Ensure appropriate quality controls are established for product rework, reprogramming, and corrective actions performed at supplier facilities, distribution centers, or other locations.
- Support resolution of Technical Assistance Group (TAG) concerns and other field service issues attributable to manufacturing processes.
- Collaborate with Engineering to recommend improvements to product testing requirements and manufacturing controls based on field performance and customer usage.
- Leverage technical expertise across the organization to accelerate problem resolution and achieve quality objectives.
People Leadership and Organizational Development
- Lead, develop, and manage the Manufacturing Quality organization, including Quality Leaders, Quality Engineers, technical specialists, and other supporting personnel.
- Establish clear performance expectations, responsibilities, and development objectives aligned with departmental and business priorities.
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to strengthen technical capabilities, leadership effectiveness, and accountability.
- Ensure appropriate staffing, resource allocation, and prioritization of quality initiatives to meet operational requirements.
- Build a high-performing quality organization focused on collaboration, continuous improvement, and measurable results.
- Promote employee engagement, knowledge sharing, and the development of future quality leaders.
Performance Monitoring and Business Reporting
- Establish and maintain effective daily, weekly, and monthly quality performance reviews.
- Monitor key performance indicators, identify unfavorable trends, and ensure timely escalation and resolution of significant quality concerns.
- Communicate quality performance, improvement initiatives, risks, and corrective action progress to plant and business leadership.
- Translate complex quality data into actionable business insights and improvement priorities.
- Ensure quality initiatives are executed within established timelines, budgets, and performance expectations.
Leadership Expectations
- Demonstrate ownership and accountability for manufacturing quality performance.
- Influence decisions and drive results across multiple functions and organizational levels.
- Balance immediate operational quality requirements with long-term strategic improvement objectives.
- Exercise sound judgment in evaluating quality risks, business impacts, and resource priorities.
- Foster collaboration, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.
- Develop organizational capability through effective leadership, talent development, and succession planning.
What You'll Bring to Our Team
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline; equivalent combination of education and relevant technical experience may be considered.
- Experience in Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Reliability, Product Service, or a related technical function.
- Demonstrated experience with root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Ability to analyze technical and quality data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple functions and organizational levels.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and technical investigations simultaneously.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint.
- Knowledge of PFMEA, Control Plans, CAPA, SPC, and other quality systems and tools.
- Experience supporting New Product Introduction and product reliability initiatives.
Our Culture
Our work is centered on our People and Culture as reflected in our Zero Distance philosophy and we recognize the importance of reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D). This underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute, while positioning our organization to adapt seamlessly to the evolving needs of our workforce and communities.
This reflects our dedication to creating solutions that: Empower colleagues by fostering an environment where all voices are heard, valued, and encouraged to contribute. Strengthen communities where we live and work. Reinforce a culture of belonging, purpose, and engagement. Reflect the diversity of the communities we serve through our workforce, products, and practices.
By further embedding Zero Distance into our People and Culture framework, we will continue to build a deeply connected organization. We are cultivating a culture of engagement, belonging, and connection, because while attracting new talent remains a priority, retention is a cornerstone of our strategy.
GE Appliances is a trust-based organization. It is important we offer our employees the flexibility they need to do their best work while balancing the needs of the business and individuals. When you join GE Appliances, you will have the opportunity to work with your leader to create a flexible work arrangement that balances the needs of the individual, team, and organization.
GE Appliances is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
GE Appliances participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply, please send an e-mail to ask.recruiting@geappliances.com