Description & Requirements
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fiber-based packaging forward.
Job Purpose
The role focuses on compliance, customers, and continuous improvement activities to create a total quality culture and reduce quality costs in line with best practice procedures. The scope of role is to cover the Leicester Group (Leicester, Nottingham sheeting, Swadlincote and Cirrus).
The role will:
· Protect and please the customer by ensuring supply of the highest quality product
· Work with production and support functions to maintain and improve our quality systems and adherence to operational best practice thus guaranteeing compliance to external and internal standards
· Drive improvement activities to support quality and financial performance leading key improvement projects evolving through customer requirements, regulatory and legislative changes, and amendments to accredited standards to ensure compliance with standards and pending accreditation audits
· Draft, review and implement changes to our current quality systems, standard operating procedures, and policies to satisfy customer and third-party requirements
Role Responsibilities
Quality:
· Support the Regional Quality Manager and site Leadership team in quality governance and product safety
· Lead and support meetings as required and provide information and analysis as required to support the business in understanding KPI’s and decision making
· Review the quality system as appropriate to ensure full compliance with customer and company best practice guidelines and maximize effectiveness of production contributing to consistent operational performance and standards whilst ensuring conformance to the relevant accreditation standards for the site and customers
· Provide authoritative guidance and advice on all aspects of quality to the site management team and employees; train and coach employees improving knowledge and skills in quality improvement
· Recruit, develop, motivate, and manage a Quality team (QA/QC) that optimises quality operations and is flexible in the support it offers the business, meeting current and future needs
· Establish and develop professional working relationships with customers, providing a technical service and reference point as required to support the company’s products and reputation as a quality supplier
· Manage the customer complaint procedure, facilitate the investigation of quality problems, faults, and non-conformances with production teams; manage corrective and preventative problems to ensure quality standards are maintained. Initiate and control robust investigations to provide corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and support the complaints handling process and participate in implementing improvement actions to prevent re-occurring issues.
· The facilitation of customer facing activities and communications including customer visits, responses, and preparation of information whilst leading site audit activities (external body, internal and customer)
· Lead quality initiatives and focus groups to support knowledge and understanding of all operatives and grow awareness of quality issues to improve quality
· Promote a total quality philosophy at all levels developing a culture of right first time and continuous improvement
Business Improvement:
· Lead improvements to enhance quality system and ensure optimum process in place to meet customer specifications whilst maximizing production
· Review amendments to standards and ensure compliance with accreditation bodies
· Support introduction of new equipment on site and validation processes to meet safety and customer expectations
· Take on other projects and responsibilities as required.
· Contribute ideas and participate in ongoing business improvement initiatives to reduce overall operating costs, improve margin, and provide input into the strategy and operations of the site
Other:
· Produce data and present reports for site, customers and corporate as required
· Identify improvement projects and continuous improvement initiatives in line with site and corporate requirements to improve quality and safety and work with colleagues to implement these
· Support senior leadership team in introducing systems and procedures to enhance operating effectiveness and efficiencies
· Deliver GMP, Quality and FSC training to all employees as required
· Take on other projects and responsibilities as required
Knowledge, Skills, Experience
· Minimum 5 years’ experience in a Quality role at a senior or management level
· Working and audit knowledge relevant accredited standards
· Experience in a manufacturing/production environment ideally with experience and knowledge of Industry standards and guidelines
· Demonstrable experience of leading change and implementing continuous improvement processes.
· Supervisory experience
· Demonstrable experience of validating new equipment and processes
· Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
· Project management and problem-solving skills such as 6 Sigma, or another recognised Business Improvement Technique
· Root cause analysis and problem-solving techniques
· Customer relations skills
· Skilled in information handling, analysis, and presentation
· Competent in using Microsoft Office packages
Behaviours
· Analytical thinking
· Self-Control
· Tenacity
· Rational Persuasion
· Efficiency Focused
· Concern for standards and Results focused
· Communication/briefing skills
· Negotiation/consultation skills
· Commercial awareness
Core Competencies
People Management
· Leadership & Vision – Ability to inspire a team with a clear vision and purpose
· Coaching & Developing people – The ability to teach operational skills to others and mentor/coach accordingly
· Managing performance – Ability to monitor and evaluate performance and take appropriate action.
Personal Competencies
· Communication – Ability to convey ideas and decisions to internal and external customers
· Determination – Ability to overcome obstacles
· Influence/Persuasiveness – Ability to influence and inspire others to act
Managing the Business
· Organisation – The ability to judge situations accurately and make sound operational decisions to deliver results on time
· Continuous Improvement – The ability to continually monitor and review current working practices and make the best use of resources to improve organisational results
Other Requirements
Flexible and adaptable to change and prepared to take on additional responsibilities with other duties as required to meet business needs. Successfully adapts to changing demands and conditions. Be able to be self-motivated, standards driven, with a keen eye for detail whilst being team focused and harnessing collaboration and co-operation of others.