Product Quality Specialist

The Product Quality Leader is responsible for leading product quality initiatives across the manufacturing organization to improve delivered product quality, reduce warranty costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. This role leads the Plant Product Quality Council process, drives cross-functional quality improvements, resolves complex product quality issues, and ensures robust quality systems are implemented and sustained. The incumbent collaborates with engineering, manufacturing, supplier quality, sourcing, and operations teams to prevent product failures, improve product reliability, and strengthen the overall quality culture across the business.

• Lead the Plant Product Quality Council (PQC) process to improve product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction while reducing warranty costs.


• Direct and develop teams responsible for planning, tracking, analyzing, and reporting delivered product quality and reliability performance.


• Lead the investigation and resolution of complex product quality issues arising from corrective action requests (CARs), supplier corrective action requests (SCARs), non-conforming material reports (NCMRs), warranty claims, and customer feedback.


• Drive structured problem-solving activities using methodologies such as 7-Step Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis, and corrective/preventive action processes to eliminate recurring quality issues.


• Lead containment activities for emerging quality concerns and coordinate cross-functional teams to implement timely and effective corrective actions.


• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Sourcing, and Operations teams to ensure product quality requirements are achieved throughout the product lifecycle.


• Support product development activities by reviewing Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), engineering validation plans, and Product Part Approval Process (PPAP) requirements to ensure robust product launches.


• Utilize knowledge of Aftertreatment Systems to support product quality improvements, field issue investigations, and customer concern resolution.


• Establish and improve quality systems, processes, and tools that enhance defect prevention, process capability, and functional excellence.


• Monitor supplier quality performance and work closely with Supplier Quality and Sourcing teams to resolve supplier-related quality concerns and improve supplier capability.


• Analyze quality data, warranty trends, field failures, and customer feedback to identify improvement opportunities and drive preventive actions.


• Lead continuous improvement initiatives aligned with the Cummins Operating System (COS) and Total Quality Management (TQM) principles.


• Coach, mentor, and develop quality engineers and cross-functional teams to build organizational capability and strengthen quality culture.


• Ensure adequate resources, priorities, and project execution to achieve quality, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction objectives.


• Lead post-implementation reviews and ensure lessons learned are incorporated into future product and process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related technical discipline.
• Advanced qualifications or certifications in Quality Management, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, APQP, or Project Management are desirable.
• This position may require licensing for compliance with export control or sanctions regulations, where applicable.

Preferred Competencies

• Communicates Effectively
• Customer Focus
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Manages Conflict
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• Measurement Science
• Problem Solving
• Project Management
• Quality Leadership (Cummins Operating System)
• Quality Systems Management
• Statistical Foundations
• Supplier Quality Management
• Values Differences

Skills & Experience

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of Aftertreatment Systems (ATS) and engine product quality.
• Hands-on experience with 7-Step Problem Solving and structured root cause analysis methodologies.
• Working knowledge of Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA).
• Understanding of Engineering Validation processes and product verification activities.
• Knowledge of Product Part Approval Process (PPAP) requirements.
• Awareness of Sourcing and Supplier Quality Improvement (SQI) processes.
• Strong understanding of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) methodologies.
• Knowledge of Supplier Quality Management, corrective action processes, and quality system requirements.
• Experience with statistical analysis, quality metrics, process capability studies, and data-driven decision making.
• Familiarity with the Cummins Operating System (COS), Total Quality Management (TQM), and continuous improvement methodologies.

Core Skills

• Strong analytical thinking and complex problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and people development skills.
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to balance business objectives and customer expectations.
• Strong decision-making, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive quality improvements across multiple functions.

Experience

• Significant experience in Product Quality, Manufacturing Quality, Supplier Quality, Quality Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional quality improvement initiatives and managing complex product quality issues.
• Experience in warranty reduction, product reliability improvement, supplier quality management, and customer quality support.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including people management, project leadership, and budget responsibility.
• Broad business knowledge with the ability to influence strategic quality initiatives across multiple functions and manufacturing locations.