Quality Systems and Continuous Improvement Engineer

Job Description

Job DescriptionAbout Forte Opening Solutions

At Forte Opening Solutions, we don’t just build doors—we design pathways to possibility. Our team blends craftsmanship with modern manufacturing and empowers every employee to help shape the future of our industry. If you’re passionate about quality and collaboration, you’ll feel right at home here.

A Day in This Role

You’ll split your time between the production floor and the office, partnering closely with Operations, Supply Chain, and Sales. In the morning, you might walk the line with operators to verify a new work instruction, then shift into an afternoon root-cause workshop to drive sustainable corrective actions. Throughout, you’ll strengthen our Quality Management System (QMS) to elevate First Pass Yield (FPY) and reduce Cost of Quality (CoQ).

What You’ll Do

• Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, and Sales to refine documented processes, author clear work instructions, and verify process adherence.
• Lead root-cause investigations: identify trends, analyze causal factors, facilitate corrective actions, and maintain robust documentation of RCA tools.
• Champion training efforts: onboard new hires, support cross-training, and deliver refresher sessions linking process behavior to quality outcomes.
• Increase operator engagement with the QMS using effective change management and clear communication during periods of transition.
• Own and update risk-based tools, including Control Plans and FMEAs, to proactively mitigate process risk.
• Partner with Operations to collect and analyze data, verify product and process conformance, and monitor trends.
• Administer document control for new and revised procedures, ensuring accuracy, version control, and accessibility.
• Lead and contribute to improvement initiatives focused on FPY and CoQ gains.
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert for Layered Process Audits (LPA), First Article Inspection (FAI), and other quality sustainment practices.
• Set measurable personal objectives aligned with facility goals for Safety, Quality, and Production—and deliver against them.
• Communicate consistently and clearly, both verbally and in writing, to drive alignment and action.

What You Bring

• 5–7 years in a quality-focused manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent experience (preferred).
• Background in process and/or project management.
• Six Sigma/Lean Green Belt or the drive to earn certification within 18 months.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Direct experience engaging with customers on quality issues.
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of removing roadblocks and advocating for production needs.
• Flexibility to support all shifts with on-the-floor presence and active leadership.
• Solid knowledge of quality inspection and auditing methods.
• Fluency with QMS documentation: Work Instructions/SOPs, Layered Process Audits, First Article Inspection, Process Flow, Control Plan, FMEA.
• Hands-on experience with analytical and problem-solving methods such as 8D, CAR, 5 Whys, and Fishbone.

Work Conditions & Tools

• Willingness to adjust hours as projects and workload demand.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs from floor level to the inspection station.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, Email, and Visio) and other Windows-based applications.