Continuous Improvement & Quality Manager Job

Primary location:Millwood,West Virginia
Relocation offered:Yes
Employment status:Full-Time
Travel:11%-25%
Non-compete:No

The estimated base salary range for this role is "$100,000 to $120,000" per year.
Individual pay is based upon location, skills and expertise, experience and other relevant factors

What does it mean to work at Armstrong?

It means being immersed in a supportive culture that recognizes you as a key player in Armstrong's future. We are a large company with a local feel, where you will get to know and collaborate with leadership and your colleagues across the company.

By joining us, you'll have the opportunity to make the most of your potential. Alongside a competitive remuneration package, you will receive:

A benefits package including: medical, dental, prescription drug, life insurance, 401k match, long-term disability coverage, vacation and sick time, and many more.
Personal development to grow your career with us based on your strengths and interests.
A working culture that balances individual achievement with teamwork and collaboration. We draw on each other's strengths and allow for different work styles to build engagement and satisfaction to deliver results.

Under the guidance of the Plant Manager, the Continuous Improvement & Quality Manager leads productivity initiatives and strategic planning for plant operations. This role also manages and coordinates plant chemistry, process engineering, and quality assurance functions, while serving as the primary customer service liaison for internal and external stakeholders. Key responsibilities include driving process and chemistry improvements, ensuring quality assurance, implementing lean manufacturing practices, and leading cost-reduction and business process initiatives. The position provides leadership by aligning resources with the plant's vision, mission, and values, and by implementing systems that motivate and enable teams to achieve operational excellence.

What's in it for you?

• Lead Strategic Impact - Drive plant-wide productivity, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives that directly influence growth and operational excellence.
• Cross-Functional Leadership - Manage technical teams and collaborate with diverse internal and external stakeholders, shaping key business processes.
• Innovation & Development - Champion Lean transformation, digital tools, and cutting-edge process improvements to enhance efficiency and enable rapid innovation.

What does the Continuous Improvement & Quality Manager do?

Productivity Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the productivity process, strategic planning, and execution of key initiatives for Plant Operations. Through close work with Finance, Operational Excellence and Manufacturing Teams this role is accountable for achieving productivity targets, strategic growth and EBITDA initiatives.
• Assist with achieving plant goals in outside sales volume, mix, and pricing.
• Develop productive relationships with internal and external customers.
• Key deliverables include driving a focused company wide manufacturing strategy to improve plant reliability, scrap, and productivity.
• Develops an assortment of projects and initiatives that align with achieving full safety, quality, delivery, & cost KPIs that support our productivity and growth targets.
• Manage own organization; guide and advise personnel in interpretation of Plant and Company policies. Help resolve non-routine personnel problems.
• Promote the Plant Safety Process by leading the process and maintaining a high level of awareness and operating discipline for all plant safety policies.

Quality Responsibilities:

• Oversee the continued evolution, development, and execution of plant quality and process engineering functions, such as the daily board reviews, Q&S reviews, technical and quality assessments, and quality performance and attainment.
• Manage customer complaints/claims and lead problem-solving efforts to resolve issues.

Continuous Improvement Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead the plant's Lean and Continuous Improvement strategy with a focus on manufacturing excellence, and process capability.
• Drive the plant's Lean transformation and related efforts, including daily Gemba Walks, Quality Dashboard Reviews, VST sessions, Driving MDI and HOP, and creation and use of Standard Work.
• Recommend and provide leadership support to the implementation of new process improvement projects related to safety, process effectiveness and cost.
• Keep abreast of technical developments and advances in appropriate fields and recommend their application where advantageous.
• Understand and implement digital tools to expand the capability and accuracy of manufacturing processes driving manufacturing efficiency and enabling rapid innovations.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• 1 Plant Process Engineer
• 1 - 4 Process Improvement Operator

Travel: 10%-20% or as needed for customer support

Key Customers and Suppliers:

• External

• Customers and product end users
• Material suppliers
• Environmental and other outside agencies

• Internal

• Plant Management and staff
• Corporate and divisional staff organizations
• Marketing and sales staff
• Plant organizations
• Various Networks
• Technology
• Plant employees

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, quality, engineering or related discipline
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience
• Proven experience leading technical and cross-functional teams.
• Strong facilitation and project management skills
• Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge and practical experience applying Lean Manufacturing or process improvement principles to enable organizational transformation.

What will make you successful?

• Proven ability to implement and audit systems to drive the utilization of technical and support systems to achieve manufacturing results.
• Track record of results and driving execution: alignment and engagement of the entire organization's talent and passion, good problem-solving methodology and data analysis, and project management rigor and tools.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of customers and teammates
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with diverse audiences, in both oral and written contexts
• Digitalization skillset.

What will make you stand out?

• Master's degree
• 5+ years of plant chemistry, process engineering, and quality assurance experience
• Six Sigma Black or Green Belt certification
• Lean certification

Why should you join Armstrong World Industries?

Armstrong World Industries (AWI) is anAmericas leader in the design and manufacture of innovative interior and exterior architectural applications including ceilings, specialty walls and exterior metal solutions. With approximately $1.4 billion in revenue, AWI has about 3,700 employees and a manufacturing network of 21 facilities in North America.

At home, at work, in healthcare facilities, classrooms, stores, or restaurants, we offer interior solutions that help to enhance comfort, save time, improve building efficiency and overall performance, and create beautiful spaces.

For more than 160 years, we have built our business on trust and integrity. It set us apart then, and it sets us apart now, along with our ability to collaborate with and innovate for the people we're here to serve - our customers, our shareholders, our communities and our employees.

We are committed to developing new and sustainable architectural solutions, with design and performance possibilities that make a positive difference in spaces where we live, work, learn, heal and play. It's an exciting, rewarding business to be in, and we're committed to continue to grow and prosper for the benefit of all of our stakeholders. We hope you join us.

Our Sustainability Ambition

"Bringing our Purpose to Life" - lead a transformation in the design and building of spaces fit for today and tomorrow.
We are committed to:

• Engaging a diverse, purpose-driven workforce;
• Transforming buildings from structures that shelter into structures that serve and preserve the health and well-being of people and planet;
• Pursuing sustainable, innovative solutions for spaces where we live, work, learn heal and play;
• Being a catalyst for change with all of our stakeholders; and
• Making a positive difference in the environments and communities we impact.

Armstrong is committed to engaging a diverse, purpose-driven workforce. As part of our dedication to diversity, AWI is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard for race, sex, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at by email at AWI talent acquisitionand let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Come and build your future with us and apply today!