Quality Manager

Fastener Quality Manager – Cold Heading Manufacturing

Location: Rockford, Illinois
Schedule: On-site, Monday–Friday
Compensation: Starting at $30 per hour, negotiable based on experience

Build, Lead, and Improve Quality in a Hands-On Fastener Manufacturing Environment

Elite Fasteners is a family-owned cold heading manufacturer specializing in high-precision, small-diameter fasteners and components. As a smaller, fast-paced company, we offer an environment where decisions are made quickly, individual contributions are visible, and experienced employees can have a direct impact on how the business operates.

We are seeking an experienced Fastener Quality Manager who understands that quality management in cold heading requires more than maintaining paperwork. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who can move comfortably between the inspection lab, production floor, customer requirements, corrective actions, and quality-system documentation.

The right candidate will bring practical experience in fastener, screw, cold heading, or closely related precision-component manufacturing. You will be responsible for leading the quality function while remaining actively involved in daily inspections, PPAP submissions, gage management, calibration, customer concerns, and continuous improvement.

What You Will Do:

Lead Fastener Inspection and Product Quality

• Perform and oversee dimensional, visual, and functional inspections of cold-headed fasteners and components.
• Use micrometers, calipers, ring gages, plug and pin gages, optical comparators, and other precision measurement equipment.
• Review parts for dimensional compliance, thread requirements, visual defects, and customer-specific specifications.
• Maintain accurate inspection records, lot traceability, certifications, and supporting quality documentation.
• Help production employees understand inspection methods, defect standards, and quality expectations.

Manage Customer and Internal Quality Concerns

• Lead containment, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and verification activities.
• Complete and manage 8D responses and other customer-required corrective-action formats.
• Investigate customer complaints, internal nonconformances, and recurring production concerns.
• Coordinate sorting, rework, disposition, and preventive-action activities when necessary.
• Communicate directly with customers regarding quality requirements, submissions, concerns, and approvals.

Own PPAP and Quality Documentation

• Prepare and submit complete PPAP packages.
• Develop and maintain process flow diagrams, PFMEAs, control plans, inspection instructions, capability studies, and related documentation.
• Review customer prints, specifications, and special requirements.
• Maintain accurate and practical procedures, work instructions, forms, and quality records.
• Ensure documentation reflects actual manufacturing and inspection practices.

Oversee Gages and Calibration

• Manage the company’s gage inventory and calibration system.
• Maintain calibration schedules, certifications, records, and status identification.
• Coordinate outside calibration services and replacement of damaged or unsuitable equipment.
• Complete and maintain gage R&R studies.
• Verify that appropriate measurement methods and gages are available for each product and process.

Strengthen the Quality Management System

• Maintain and improve the company’s quality-management procedures and internal audit processes.
• Support compliance with ISO 9001 requirements and customer-specific standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve inspection methods, documentation, traceability, and manufacturing controls.
• Help modernize quality processes while keeping systems practical for a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Monitor quality trends and use data to reduce defects, scrap, rework, and customer concerns.

Work Across the Organization

• Partner closely with production, engineering, sales, customer service, and shipping.
• Participate in new-part reviews, feasibility discussions, process planning, and product launches.
• Lead quality meetings and communicate priorities clearly.
• Train and develop quality personnel and production operators.
• Provide practical guidance while holding employees accountable to established standards.

What We Are Looking For

Fastener, screw, cold heading, or closely related precision-component manufacturing experience is required.

Successful candidates should have:

• Strong hands-on inspection and blueprint-reading skills.
• Practical knowledge of fastener dimensions, threads, gaging, and common manufacturing defects.
• Experience with PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, control plans, process flows, and capability studies.
• Experience managing calibration systems, gage inventories, and gage R&R studies.
• The ability to lead root-cause analysis and implement effective corrective actions.
• Strong documentation, organization, and follow-through.
• The confidence to communicate with customers, production employees, and senior management.
• The ability to work independently, make decisions, and manage multiple priorities.
• A practical, shop-floor approach to quality leadership.

A college degree is not required. Relevant fastener-manufacturing knowledge, technical ability, judgment, and leadership experience are more important.

Why Join Elite Fasteners?

• Competitive compensation based on fastener and quality experience.
• Consistent Monday–Friday schedule.
• A stable, family-owned manufacturing environment.
• Direct access to company leadership.
• The authority to improve systems and influence how quality is managed.
• A visible role where your work has an immediate impact.
• Long-term growth potential as the company expands its capabilities.

This position is ideal for an experienced fastener quality professional who enjoys solving problems, working directly with manufacturing, and taking ownership of the entire quality function.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Salary : $30