Quality Manager

Quality Manager

Location:              Cincinnati, Ohio

Reports to:          VP of Manufacturing

The Position:

We are seeking a highly motivated, results-driven Quality Manager to lead quality excellence across Richards' pressure regulators, control valves, steam systems, and hygienic product platforms. This is a unique opportunity to shape quality strategy, drive continuous improvement, and ensure customer satisfaction across high-growth markets including pharmaceutical, semiconductor, data center, food & beverage, power, and industrial applications.

In this role, you will partner closely with customers, suppliers, engineering, operations, and commercial teams to deliver world-class quality performance while supporting innovation and new product development. You will be responsible for maintaining and improving the Quality Management System (QMS), driving root cause corrective actions, reducing cost of poor quality, enhancing supplier performance, and ensuring compliance with applicable industry, customer, and regulatory requirements.

The successful candidate will champion a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement while helping Richards develop and launch products that exceed customer expectations. If you enjoy solving complex technical challenges, eliminating quality issues at their source, developing high-performing teams, and making a visible impact on business growth and customer satisfaction, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with ISO 9001 requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
• Manage customer complaints, warranty claims, nonconforming material reports (NCMRs), and corrective action processes.
• Lead internal, customer, and third-party audits and coordinate audit responses.
• Develop, monitor, and report quality KPIs including COPQ, scrap, rework, customer complaints, supplier quality, and on-time corrective action closure.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Customer Service to improve product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Review and approve quality-related documentation, procedures, work instructions, inspection plans, and control plans.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and customer requirements including ASME, PED, CRN, FDA, ASME BPE, and other regulatory requirements as applicable.
• Lead Material Review Board (MRB) activities and disposition of nonconforming products.
• Develop and maintain supplier quality programs, supplier audits, supplier scorecards, and supplier corrective action processes.
• Drive incoming, in-process, and final inspection effectiveness.
• Manage calibration systems and measurement equipment compliance.
• Support manufacturing process improvements to reduce defects, variation, scrap, and rework.
• Participate in customer and supplier visits to resolve quality and technical issues.
• Prepare and present quality performance reports.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Supervise & Manage Quality Engineers, Quality Technicians, and Inspectors.
• Coach and develop team members through training, mentoring, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of accountability, urgency, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate cross-functional problem-solving teams to address quality and operational challenges.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 5+ years of quality management experience in industrial manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
• Experience with valves, regulators, flow control products, pressure-containing equipment, or process industries preferred.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis tools such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, and FMEA.
• Experience managing customer and supplier quality issues.
• Strong statistical analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of ASME, ASTM, PED, CRN, and related industry standards.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, working at cross-functional level, teamwork mindset.

Success Metrics

• Customer complaints reduced year-over-year.
• Team leadership in QA & RGA, improve collaboration and cross functional team work with visual management.
• Zero major ISO audit findings.
• Warranty costs maintained below target.
• On-time corrective action closure >95%.
• Supplier quality performance improvement year-over-year.
• First-pass yield >98%.
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) is reduced annually.

Company Profile:

Richards Industrials, founded in 1961, is a manufacturer of pressure regulators, control valves, and other fluid control products, known by our customers for high-quality products, great customer service, and fast & reliable deliveries.  Our products are marketed under a series of distinct brands, each of which is used in unique applications that require precise technical attributes.  The company serves a range of end markets, including pharmaceutical, food & beverage, chemical, petrochemical, and various industrial segments. 

The company has two locations, Cincinnati OH and Fletcher NC, and a global headcount of 190.  Equipped with an experienced, passionate team, Richards focuses on driving profitable growth through operational excellence, opening new channels to market, and investing in new products. 

Richards has four Core Values:

• Empowerment: Employees are our most valuable asset
• Collaboration: Together we achieve more
• Pioneering Spirit: Curiosity and innovation are our driving forces
• Service Mindset: Never stop advocating for the Customer

And our purpose is to solve tomorrow’s demanding fluid control problems, today. 

Richards Industrials firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.