Quality Shift Leader

SUMMARY:
We are looking for a proactive, hands-on Shift Leader with strong leadership skills who can drive operational excellence in a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment and report to the Production Manager.

POSITION INFO:

• Leading, coaching, supervising, and coordinating Quality Auditors during the assigned shift.
• Allocating inspection activities to ensure adequate quality coverage across all production areas.
• Ensuring inspections are conducted in accordance with Control Plans, Work Instructions, customer requirements, and approved quality procedures.
• Reviewing and approving First-Off inspections before production commences.
• Verifying components using approved checking fixtures, gauges, measuring equipment, drawings, and specifications.
• Ensuring that production only commences once all dimensional and visual requirements have been met.
• Rejecting non-conforming First-Off components and ensuring corrective actions are implemented before approval.
• Ensuring patrol inspections and process audits are completed according to the relevant Control Plans.
• Monitoring operator compliance with approved work instructions, standard operating procedures, and machine setting requirements.
• Identifying, segregating, labelling, and controlling non-conforming products.
• Investigating quality concerns and supporting root cause analysis and corrective action activities.
• Stopping or escalating production where quality standards cannot be maintained.
• Ensuring compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, Customer Specific Requirements, Control Plans, PFMEA, Process Flow documentation, and traceability requirements.
• Ensuring checking fixtures and measuring equipment are available, calibrated, fit for purpose, and correctly used.
• Reviewing First-Off, patrol inspection, Last-Off, and other quality documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Preparing and submitting daily quality reports and communicating outstanding issues during shift handovers.
• Identifying recurring quality concerns and driving defect prevention and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participating in scrap meetings, problem-solving activities, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Liaising with Production Shift Leaders and escalating unresolved quality concerns to the Quality Manager.
• Communicating urgent quality issues and customer-related concerns promptly and effectively.

Minimum Requirements:

Qualifications

• Grade 12 or equivalent qualification with Mathematics.
• National Diploma or Degree in Quality, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Training in IATF 16949 Core Tools.
• Internal Auditor qualification will be advantageous.
• Knowledge of GD&T will be advantageous.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of 5 years'' experience in an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 2 years'' experience in a quality leadership or senior quality inspection role.
• Experience in one or more of the following manufacturing processes:
• Stamping
• Welding
• Assembly
• Tube and wire forming will be advantageous.
• Experience working with OEM customer requirements.
• Sound knowledge of automotive quality systems, inspection methods, problem-solving, and defect prevention.

Key Performance Areas (KPAs):

• Safety performance
• Production output and efficiency
• Product quality and scrap reduction
• On-time customer delivery
• Employee engagement and development
• Continuous improvement implementation
• Compliance with company policies and procedures

Key Competencies:

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical ability.
• Attention to detail and a high level of quality awareness.
• Good understanding of measuring equipment and checking fixtures.
• Ability to make sound decisions and act decisively when quality standards are at risk.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong planning, coordination, and reporting skills.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Should you be interested in applying for this position, please send your detailed CV & copies of qualifications to HR via email ( ). 

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Appointment will be made in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan.