VP Quality: Top Recruiters in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids is America's furniture capital, with Steelcase and Herman Miller operating global headquarters, supported by a highly skilled precision manufacturing workforce and a growing advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

The VP of Quality leads the enterprise quality management system, quality engineering, and customer quality functions, driving first-time quality, reducing warranty and customer claims, and maintaining quality certifications required for market access. This executive builds a quality culture that prevents defects rather than inspecting them away.

• Lead enterprise QMS in compliance with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or relevant industry standard
• Own customer quality metrics including PPM, warranty rates, customer complaints, and customer satisfaction scores
• Drive enterprise-wide quality improvement programs targeting defect elimination and cost of poor quality reduction
• Lead quality engineering function including FMEA, control plan development, and measurement system analysis
• Manage customer quality relationships and lead resolution of major quality escapes and 8D corrective actions
• Oversee product compliance and certification activities for regulatory approvals (UL, CE, CSA, FDA, etc.)
• Lead supplier quality management in partnership with supply chain, including supplier audits and PPAP
• Manage internal and external audit programs, including management system certification body interfaces
• Deploy SPC, advanced quality planning (APQP), and statistical methods across manufacturing operations
• Build quality leadership talent and quality engineering capability across the organization

• 12+ years in manufacturing quality with at least 5 years in VP or senior director quality leadership
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor and industry-specific certification (IATF 16949, AS9100) required
• CQE or CMQ/OE (ASQ) certification strongly preferred
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt preferred
• Demonstrated experience reducing customer PPM and warranty costs in high-volume manufacturing
• Track record of maintaining quality certifications across multi-site manufacturing operations

• Quality System Leadership: Deep expertise in ISO-based QMS design and continuous improvement
• Customer Quality Management: Skill in managing customer quality relationships through escapes and corrective actions
• Statistical Methods: Expert-level knowledge of SPC, MSA, APQP, and Six Sigma methodology
• Supplier Quality Partnership: Ability to drive quality improvement through the supply chain
• Culture Transformation: Proven ability to shift organizational culture from detection to prevention mindset

Nexoval Search Partners's dedicated Advanced Manufacturing practice maintains active relationships with the executive talent community across Grand Rapids and the broader Michigan market. Our consultants conduct thorough market mapping of available passive and active candidates across the region's leading employers, from established industry leaders to innovative growth companies. Every engagement includes confidential outreach, rigorous competency-based assessment, and candidate presentation within 45 to 60 days of engagement launch. Nexoval Search Partners's retained search model and one-year replacement guarantee ensure every executive we place in Grand Rapids, Michigan delivers long-term organizational value.