Quality Assurance II

This is a key Quality Assurance II (QA II) role with extended responsibilities to Tier 2 suppliers on one of the strongest QA teams in the Footwear industry. The ideal candidate must possess a thorough understanding of footwear manufacturing, including bottoms to apply your skills, observation, and experience to ensure the Brooks Global Quality Standards are met.

You are responsible for both quality assurance and quality control of processes, components, and final products at both the Brooks Tier 1 factories and assigned Super Critical Foam (SCF) Tier 2 suppliers. This role requires occasional in-person support on the production lines or in the finished good inspection room working alongside factory QA to monitor day to day operations, and auditing/elevating quality at Tier 2 vendors.

· Assist Quality Assurance Continuous Improvement (“QACI”) Manager to mentor and motivate Tier 2 factory team in facilitating problem solving using root cause analysis, fishbone diagram, and A3 thinking to drive issue resolution.

· Assist QACI Manager in working with Tier 2 on Kaizen events on the production floor.

· Organize and lead the monthly factory meeting.

· Support Vendor Scorecard preparation and review for SCF Tier 2 vendors.

· Assist the SCF Tier 2 vendor in preparing monthly meeting report using Brooks template. Review meeting material asking critical questions while welcoming feedback from the Brooks and factory cross-functional teams to gain a deeper understanding of what the data is saying. Leveraging this understanding and group buy-in to discover new opportunities for further defect rate reduction.

· Drive resolution of quality issues with Tier 1, and Super critical foam (SCF) Tier 2 factories, by working teams together with appropriate Brooks cross-functional and factory teams using root cause analysis. Open corrective actions using Brooks PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) system and facilitate root cause analysis and problem solving. Present to cross functional team and HQ, if needed.

· Ensure quality excellence across both Tier 1 Factories and Tier 2 suppliers through the enforcement of Brooks quality standards and policy deployment, identify issues, and resolve concerns in a timely manner.

· Drive continuous improvement and quality assurance at Tier 1 and Super critical foam (SCF) Tier 2 factories by communicating relevant Brooks quality standards & policies, supporting implementation, issue identification and resolution through root cause analysis and Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology.

· Enforcing SCF products quality specifications throughout the manufacturing process monitoring, standard alignment, continuously improvement project follows up – visual management / PFC complaints/FIFO/continuously Training etc.

· Support and audit new & potential new vendors. Supports Corporate Responsibility & Social Responsibility compliance.

· Audit assigned Tier 2 SCF vendors for adherence to conditions of requirements of Brooks quality management system based on results of monthly audits & T1 vendor lab test results. Prepare audit report and send report with summary directly following the audit.

· Identify and align with Brooks QA leader, factory QA leader, and necessary factory personnel on critical to quality manufacturing checkpoints for all styles.

· Implement and enforce inline inspection training for line workers and factory QA to support the factory’s transition from reliance on end-of-the-line QC to factory driven in-process QA through to Continuous Improvement

· Monthly/weekly quality data reviewing and monitoring. Data management, reporting requirements, monitoring, and actioning for Quality KPIs

· Perform regular audits to ensure factories adherence to PFC’s (Process Flow Chart), MQAA MPQAA (Manufacturing Process Quality Assurance Audit) Best Practices, Standardized Work, category requirements, In-Station Quality (ISQ) and other Brooks quality / packaging checklists.

· Perform Brooks inspection of final product, promo orders, and other special need orders.

· Take a proactive approach with regards to defects found during inspection

· Detect and report unusual or non-conforming documentation, materials, conditions, or product to supervisor or group/team leader and/or Brooks QACI Manager & Factory QA Manager

· Confirm proper machine maintenance and record keeping of factory equipment.

· Carry out random spot checks of completed components & product; engage supervisors, QA/QC personnel, and workers in daily quality education and discussions.

· Train Brooks quality guidelines and MPQAA (Manufacturing Process Quality Assurance Audit) Best Practices, Standardized Work, category requirements, In-Station Quality (ISQ), translating specific quality expectations and the definition of craftsmanship required in all product.

· Demonstrate correct processes through on the job training and illustrate benefits of maintaining proper process controls.

· Engage directly in the training of “Factory Hired Inspectors” (“FHI”) on how to emulate the Brooks QA Auditor role.

· Utilize FHIs as resources in QC duties, workshop auditing, quality initiatives, IC inspections, and verification of shipping documentation. Test, evaluate, and provide feedback to QA Manager and factory management on FHI performance.

· Serve as the main communication link between Brooks and factory management staff for assigned areas of responsibility.

· Communicate ‘one voice’ to the factory on all issues and team decisions.

· Maintain connectivity with the Category and/or Engineering team through effective communication, participation in key Commercialization trials & meetings, contributing ideas and suggestions in the process to help ensure product readiness and manufacturability concerns are identified and effectively resolved prior to initial production.

· Provide valuable documented manufacturing feedback to the Commercialization and Manufacturing teams.

· Involve in routine quality meetings with factory staff, submit regular reports as required by QA Manager to allow for & promote dialogue surrounding pertinent manufacturing issues.

· Support Brooks QA leader to implement, monitor and drive factory compliance of Brooks Key Quality Strategies and Initiatives

· To Support Brooks QA leader in organizing weekly team meeting

· Other duties as assigned.

· Minimum of 5 years of production/QA experience; Experience leading a team

· Fluent in English and local language (writing and speaking) - ability to communicate clearly with other teams. Fluency in spoken and written Chinese is preferred.

· Communication, organizational skills, ability to prioritize work, and a willingness to work in a team-oriented environment.

· Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Smartsheet

· Advanced Knowledge of footwear production process

· Proactive, assertive, and detail oriented with the ability to multi-task.

· Experience in support & auditing of Lean and Corporate Responsibility is preferred.

1. Personal and Team Leadership

· Accept responsibility for team’s actions.

· Show high level of productivity and quality.

· Keep commitments and delivers on results.

· Can work under pressure to meet individual and team deadlines.

· Align team goals, with individual goals, with department goals.

· Look for ways to elevate the team.

· Monitor overall team performance.

· Seek to raise the standards of performance for the team.

2. Problem Solving

· Base decisions on analysis, experience and judgment

· Think through problems and recognize when to ask for help.

· Look at multiple solutions to a problem before taking action.

· Use personal experience to avoid mistakes.

· Be open to ideas and input from others.

3. Industry Knowledge

· Knowledge of technical aspects of footwear manufacturing & an understanding of technical terminology. Occasional translation of documentation or templates from English to relevant regional languages required.

4. Effective Communication

· Present ideas and information clearly

· Listen to others’ viewpoints.

· Ask questions to clarify understanding.

· Participate in discussions around issues.

· Present his / her position openly.

· Openly and tactfully address conflicts.

5. Planning and Priority Setting

· Organize work effectively.

· Manage time and resources to accomplish tasks.

· Adapt well to changes.

· Can reprioritize activities to achieve results.

· Prioritize own work to accomplish objectives.

· Handle multiple demands or competing priorities.

Reports to: Quality Manager, [South Vietnam]

Department: Footwear Sourcing – 95

Location: [HCMC]