VP of Quality

Job Description: Summary: Reporting to the COO/CTO the VP of Quality role will involve creating and/or augmenting the Quality system and programs to be a pro-active vs. a reactive structure. This will involve creating an overall quality vision, setting quality goals and recommend organizational changes to achieve the set goals. The quality head will create consensus and promote quality throughout the company. He/She will create an environment conducive to continuous quality improvement and implements systems to nurture quality excellence. Communication of the company�s quality system to customers is an essential part of the role. This individual should have hands-on problem solving skills that can be regimented into a failure analysis and preventive measurement process. These processes will be executed by the quality team under the guidance and direction of the VP of Quality. The VP of Quality will initially need to be involved in typical customer or factory problems at the outset in order to evaluate the challenges within the Quality Department and to develop the necessary programs, and then effectively communicate the vision to the quality team for execution. Responsible for: i) products Quality and integrity ii) deployment and maintenance of the Quality Systems iii) Quality verification in all aspects of the operations. Ensure the highest standard of customer satisfaction by delivering the right product to meet or exceed customer expectations. Oversees Quality Assurance engineering, Quality Control, failure analysis, the qualification and environmental / reliability lab, receiving inspection as well as Quality document control and compliance. A high level of customer interface is required. Working with outside foundry / outsourcing partners at wafer level, die level and board level is required. Responsibilities 1. Directs, controls and staffs the Quality department to ensure support for execution of Quality systems meets requirements. Continually reviews requirements related to new processes, new products introduction and changes in technology, customer needs and safety and environmental regulations. Actively participates in NPI programs. 2. Establishes policies and procedures based on ISO9001 and/or ISO14001 standards for all company wide processes and provides training and certification for all employees and processes. Maintains company's conformance to the standards and an internal audit system. Audits outsourcing partners for compliance. 3. Establishes Quality Control plans for all product lines in manufacturing and provides training, inspection and verification tools and schedules verification audits to ensure product assembly, testing and processes conform to the Quality Control plans and instructions. 4. Facilitates new product introduction (NPI) and ensures all first articles (including labeling and packaging) and performance requirements meet specifications and design requirements. 5. Establishes a supplier management program with the materials management team to track Quality of products and on-time-delivery performance of different suppliers. Reviews such findings periodically with the suppliers to communicate their performances and discuss corrective measures, as necessary. 6. Establishes a receiving inspection system for incoming material. Identifies tools and inspection equipment required and establishes inspection guidelines for each type of materials and components. Develop metrics for Quality and vendor analysis. 7. Establishes a central Quality records database and ensures integrity of the data and data accessibility. 8. Establishes a comprehensive traceability system for product assembly process, supplier materials, components and finished goods shipped to customers. 9. Participates in product and process improvement projects with the design, manufacturing engineering, test engineering, sales and marketing and production teams. Ensures the plant operations conform to ESD and humidity requirements, are operating in a clean environment, and conform to local health and safety regulations. 10. Establishes a failure analysis system with adequate technical and lab staff to support troubleshooting, root cause analysis, incoming materials failure analysis and failure analysis on customer returns. Ensures reporting and corrective actions are taken in a timely manner. 11. Directs and maintains a qualification and environmental lab that supports product reliability and life testing, new product qualification and Quality verification for customers. Such efforts shall be coordinated with the Quality control group in the company's headquarter in the United States and other design centers. 12. Establishes systems and procedures for containment of non-conforming materials and products throughout the company. 13. Establishes performance goals for product Quality and yields and reviews regularly for cause of deviations and provides guidelines and support for improvements with project based approaches such as design of experiments, statistical tools and capability studies. 14. Get at the root causes of quality issues and fix them by installing a control system. 15. Establishes comprehensive tools, equipment and inspection systems calibration programs and ensures all are compliant. 16. Liaise and co-ordinate with the Quality control group in the company's headquarter in the United States with regard to the establishment of the Quality system, new product/materials Quality verifications and overall customer requirements. 17. Set up remote (non-US based) quality systems and FA/Reliability centers as required. Qualifications: 1. Minimum 15 years of hands-on experience in a high volume electronic and SMT environment, including 5 years of experience in managing the Quality Control function. 2. B.S. degree in electronics or appropriate degree with experience in manufacturing processing, testing systems and advanced Quality Systems such as TQM, COO, QIP 3. Full knowledge of IPC standards. Familiarity with JEDEC and PCMCIA standards a plus. Proven record in implementation of ISO9001 / ISO9014 standards. Knowledge of other quality standards is a plus. 4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English including an ability to develop a consensus and drive all organizations to achieve quality goals. 5. Strong Leadership skills and Team Building Skills. 6. Ability to utilize common software such as Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint. Ability to learn new software as required. 7. Six Sigma Master Black Belt required.