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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for CNC Quality Manager

💰 $80,000 - $120,000

ManufacturingQualityCNCEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

The CNC Quality Manager is responsible for defining and driving the quality strategy for CNC machining operations, ensuring all manufactured parts meet customer requirements, industry standards (ISO 9001, AS9100 where applicable), and internal specifications. This role leads inspection and metrology activities (including CMM programming/operation), implements process controls (SPC, Gage R&R, PFMEA), manages non-conformances and CAPA, supports supplier and customer quality interactions, and coaches a cross-functional team to reduce scrap, rework, and cost. Ideal candidates combine deep technical knowledge of CNC processes and GD&T with proven leadership and continuous improvement experience.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior CNC Machinist / Lead Machinist with inspection responsibilities
  • Quality Engineer (manufacturing/CNC focus)
  • Manufacturing Supervisor or Process Engineer with QC experience

Advancement To:

  • Director of Quality / Head of Quality
  • Plant Manager / Operations Manager
  • VP of Manufacturing / VP of Quality

Lateral Moves:

  • Supplier Quality Manager
  • Process Engineer (manufacturing process development)
  • Metrology/Calibration Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Own and execute the full quality management lifecycle for CNC machining operations, including incoming inspection, in-process controls, final inspection, and shipment release to ensure 100% conformance to engineering drawings and customer specifications.
  • Lead, develop and manage a team of inspectors, QA technicians, and CMM operators: set objectives, conduct performance reviews, provide coaching, and build technical capabilities in GD&T, metrology and inspection best practices.
  • Establish and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) related to CNC production, ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 and, where applicable, AS9100 requirements; drive internal audits and maintain audit readiness.
  • Design and maintain inspection and test plans, control plans, sampling plans and acceptance criteria for CNC parts, including First Article Inspection (FAI/AS9102) and PPAP submissions to customers.
  • Program, validate and operate CMMs and coordinate CMM programming resources to create automated inspection routines that reduce cycle time and improve measurement repeatability.
  • Develop, implement and monitor Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts and process capability studies (Cp/Cpk) across critical CNC machining processes to proactively identify process drift and reduce variation.
  • Lead root cause analysis (5 Whys, Ishikawa, 8D) and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) activities to close non-conformances, reduce escapes, and prevent recurrence of quality events.
  • Create and own machining process documentation including standard work, inspection procedures, SOPs, and work instructions that capture critical process parameters and measurement methods.
  • Collaborate with manufacturing engineering and process development to qualify new tooling, fixtures, gages and CNC programs with robust measurement plans and risk mitigation strategies (PFMEA).
  • Manage supplier quality for purchased machined components and outsourced operations: conduct supplier assessments, approve supplier PPAPs, define incoming inspection criteria, and drive supplier corrective actions.
  • Serve as primary quality contact for customers during audits, non-conformance investigations, engineering change control, and technical discussions; prepare and present timely data-driven quality reports.
  • Maintain metrology equipment program including calibration scheduling, gage R&R studies, lab upkeep, and procurement of appropriate inspection instruments to assure measurement accuracy and traceability.
  • Monitor, analyze and report key quality metrics (scrap rate, first pass yield, on-time quality delivery, OTD impacted by quality) and establish improvement targets tied to cost-of-quality reduction.
  • Approve and disposition non-conforming material through formal NC processes, coordinate segregated storage, rework plans, and scrap authorization while minimizing production impact.
  • Drive continuous improvement and Lean initiatives (Kaizen, 5S, poka-yoke) targeted to reduce inspection time, minimize rework, and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) as it relates to quality.
  • Oversee documentation for engineering change orders (ECOs) and ensure all quality documentation (inspection reports, FAI, PPAP packages) reflect current revisions prior to customer release.
  • Implement and maintain digital quality systems (e.g., QMS modules, SPC platforms, Minitab analytics, SAP QM or ERP-integrated quality workflows) to centralize records and enable real-time quality decision making.
  • Train production and engineering personnel on GD&T interpretation, blueprint reading, proper measurement technique, and acceptance criteria to raise shop-floor quality ownership.
  • Lead containment and stabilization actions during product launch, ramp-up or process transfer events to ensure consistent quality while meeting schedule commitments.
  • Coordinate cross-functional problem solving with production, engineering, purchasing and customer representatives to expedite root cause closure and restore conforming shipments.
  • Establish and enforce quality gates across the CNC machining operation (raw material, pre-heat treat, post-heat treat, pre-plating, final inspection) to prevent escapes and maintain compliance.
  • Participate in new product introduction (NPI) and product transfer activities to ensure manufacturability and inspectability are integrated into production readiness plans.

Secondary Functions

  • Support continuous supplier development programs by providing on-site training, audit follow-up, and escalation management for repeat quality issues.
  • Collaborate with maintenance and tooling teams to evaluate cause/effect of machine condition on quality and prioritize maintenance to protect part integrity.
  • Assist procurement with supplier selection criteria for critical machining vendors, including quality performance evaluation and capability studies.
  • Provide technical input on capital equipment purchases from a quality and metrology perspective (CMM selection, in-line vision systems, automated inspection).
  • Participate in weekly production and operational review meetings to align quality objectives with delivery, cost and safety goals.
  • Mentor junior QA staff and create knowledge-sharing materials (inspection checklists, training modules, measurement videos) to scale quality practices.
  • Support continuous improvement projects by providing measurement systems and statistical expertise to verify improvement outcomes and validate ROI.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert interpretation of engineering drawings and GD&T to derive inspection strategies and acceptance criteria.
  • Hands-on experience programming and operating CMM systems (e.g., Mitutoyo, Hexagon/PC-DMIS, Zeiss) and developing automated measurement routines.
  • Proficient with Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability analysis (Cp, Cpk), Minitab or equivalent statistical tools for data-driven decision making.
  • Practical knowledge of ISO 9001 and AS9100 quality standards; experience preparing for and supporting third-party audits and customer audits.
  • Strong background with First Article Inspection (FAI/AS9102), PPAP submissions, APQP methodology and New Product Introduction (NPI) quality readiness.
  • Root cause analysis and formal corrective action execution (8D, 5 Whys), with the ability to track CAPA to closure and verify effectiveness.
  • Experience with Gage R&R studies, calibration programs, master measurement standards and metrology best practices.
  • Familiarity with CNC machining processes (milling, turning, multi-axis) and how machining parameters affect geometric tolerances and surface finish.
  • Experience with ERP/QMS integrations (SAP QM, Plex, IQMS) and digital inspection platforms / quality databases.
  • Proficiency in quality metrics development and reporting (scrap, yield, ppm, OTD impacted by quality), KPI dashboards, and trend analysis.
  • Knowledge of PFMEA, control plan development, and poka-yoke/mistake-proofing techniques for manufacturing processes.
  • Comfortable reading and validating material certifications, heat-treat certifications, and specialty process certifications (plating, coatings).

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people management skills with demonstrated ability to build, coach and motivate inspection teams and cross-functional resources.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication; capable of explaining technical quality issues to customers, suppliers and senior management.
  • Analytical mindset with exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to lead structured investigations under time pressure.
  • High attention to detail and quality ownership combined with a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach.
  • Collaborative and influential: able to work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, procurement and customers to drive quality outcomes.
  • Project management skills and the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives, meet deadlines and manage change effectively.
  • Customer-oriented with experience handling quality escalations and maintaining positive customer relationships through responsiveness and accuracy.
  • Continuous improvement mindset and ability to coach teams in Lean / Six Sigma principles to sustain gains.
  • Resilient under operational stress and capable of making measured decisions when trade-offs between quality, cost and schedule arise.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree in Manufacturing Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Metrology, or equivalent technical diploma with relevant work experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Quality Engineering.
  • Certifications preferred: ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Manager of Quality (CMQ/OE), Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, CMM programming/inspection certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Manufacturing Technology / Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Metrology / Quality Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5–10 years of progressive quality experience in CNC machining, precision manufacturing or related industries, with demonstrated technical depth in inspection and metrology.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years of combined CNC machining and quality leadership experience, including direct supervision of inspection teams, customer-facing quality responsibilities, and exposure to regulated/aerospace/medical environments.
  • Proven track record implementing SPC/CMM automation, leading CAPA closure, and delivering measurable reductions in scrap/rework and cost-of-quality.
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