Continuous Improvement & Quality Assurance Manager

Building the people that build the world.

With platforms in HVAC and Detection and Measurement, SPX Technologies builds innovative solutions that enable a safer, more efficient, sustainable world. Through our Rise talent development framework, we Reach, Identify, Strengthen, and Engage our employees to support them in their continued development. We're a global company with problem solvers, collaborators, and innovators, and our businesses build solutions that impact the world.

This is a position with WM Technologies, LLC and affiliate of SPX Enterprises, LLC, which manufactures and sells Weil-McLain®  branded products. Weil-McLain® is a leading North American brand of hydronic comfort heating systems for residential, commercial, and institutional buildings since 1881. 

How you will make an Impact (Job Summary)

SPX is a diverse team of unique individuals who all make an impact. As the Continuous Improvement & Quality Assurance Manager, you will lead quality assurance, manufacturing process control, and operational improvement initiatives at our Michigan City facility. You will maintain effective quality management systems, ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and product certification requirements, and improve manufacturing performance through problem-solving, defect prevention, and process optimization.

This role combines technical expertise, leadership, and hands-on support in a heavy industrial environment. You will work closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Materials Management, and other functions to support the foundry, machine shop, and shipping teams. You will also partner with CI leaders across SPX sites to share best practices, reduce waste and costs, and improve process stability, product quality, and operational efficiency.

In addition, you will develop the Quality Assurance team, strengthen process documentation, and support knowledge sharing to build long-term capability and reliability across the Michigan City operation.

What you can expect in this role (Job Responsibilities)

While each day brings new opportunities at SPX, your core responsibilities will be:

1. Quality Assurance, Compliance & Management Systems

• Lead the plant quality assurance function and maintain the quality management system, including procedures, work instructions, inspection standards, and records.
• Coordinate internal and external audits and maintain readiness for applicable ASME, UL, CSA, and other certification requirements.
• Oversee inspection, testing, calibration, measurement systems, and manufacturing quality controls.
• Direct containment, investigation, and corrective action for nonconforming materials, product defects, customer concerns, and supplier quality issues.

2. Manufacturing Quality & Process Control

• Provide technical quality leadership across foundry and manufacturing operations, including molding, coremaking, melting, pouring, casting finishing, machining, and related processes.
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to identify manufacturing process variation, casting defects, quality concerns, and conditions affecting product conformity.
• Develop and maintain process control documentation, including Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (PFMEAs), control plans, process flow diagrams, inspection standards, and reaction plans.
• Apply statistical process control, measurement system analysis, and other analytical methods to evaluate process stability, identify emerging risks, and support informed manufacturing decisions.
• Support the development and verification of foundry process controls, including sand system monitoring, molding conditions, material characteristics, and other critical manufacturing parameters.
• Support controls for critical foundry parameters, including sand properties and molding conditions.
• Coordinate manufacturing trials and quality review of process, equipment, and engineering changes to verify results and product conformity.
  
  

     3.  Operational Effectiveness & Cost Reduction

• Lead the facility's structured improvement program, aligning initiatives with the SPX Business System, Annual Operating Plan (AOP), and established manufacturing performance objectives.
• Prioritize and lead projects that reduce scrap, rework, waste, and operating costs while improving productivity and process stability.
• Apply Lean, root cause analysis, 5-Why, 8D, Kaizen, and other structured problem-solving methods with cross-functional teams.
• Establish project plans, measures, ownership, and financial benefits; sustain improvements through process controls, training, and standard work.
• Support evaluation and justification of equipment, tooling, process changes, and capital investments.
• Ensure approved improvements are incorporated into sustainable operating practices, process controls, training, and standardized work.
• Support evaluation and justification of manufacturing equipment, tooling, process modifications, and capital investments that improve quality, efficiency, and cost performance.

     4.  Performance Management, Data & Technical Support

• Monitor and communicate quality and improvement metrics, including scrap, rework, first-pass yield, process capability, audit performance, and cost of poor quality.
• Provide reports, analysis, and recommendations to plant leadership; track projects, risks, and corrective actions.
• Provide technical support on quality standards, process controls, inspection, and manufacturing issues; support product introductions and process validation.
• Use ERP, quality, and statistical systems to document results and guide decisions.

5.  Leadership, Organizational Development & Business Partnership

• Lead, coach, and develop Quality Assurance personnel, establishing clear expectations for technical competency, performance, accountability, and professional development.
• Maintain appropriate staffing, workload distribution, training, and cross-functional support to ensure consistent execution of quality assurance and improvement responsibilities.
• Develop succession plans, cross-training opportunities, and technical knowledge transfer practices to preserve critical quality and manufacturing expertise.
• Partner with Human Resources on recruiting, employee development, performance management, and other workforce-related responsibilities.
• Strengthen organizational capability through employee training, process education, technical coaching, and effective communication of quality requirements.
• Promote productive working relationships among production employees, supervisors, union representatives, Engineering, Maintenance, Materials Management, and other departments.
• Establish clear ownership and accountability for quality systems, corrective actions, improvement projects, and technical documentation.
• Support organizational change by communicating expectations, involving appropriate stakeholders, and ensuring approved improvements are effectively implemented and sustained.
• Serve as a key technical and operational partner to the Operations Director and plant leadership team, providing recommendations regarding quality risks, manufacturing performance, improvement opportunities, and resource requirements.

What we are looking for (Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education)

We each bring something to the table, and we are looking for someone who has:

Required Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Continuous Improvement, or a comparable technical manufacturing role.
• Demonstrated experience leading quality assurance activities, manufacturing process improvements, or cross-functional technical initiatives.
• Previous supervisory or management experience with responsibility for developing employees, coordinating resources, and achieving departmental objectives.
• Experience developing, administering, or supporting manufacturing quality management systems, inspection processes, corrective-action programs, and quality documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate manufacturing defects, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Experience utilizing Lean manufacturing, structured problem-solving, statistical analysis, and other methods to improve quality and manufacturing performance.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing process controls, quality standards, inspection methods, and production performance measures.
• Experience managing technical projects and coordinating activities across Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and other functions.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills with the ability to interpret manufacturing data, identify trends, and develop practical recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities while balancing daily manufacturing support, compliance requirements, and longer-term improvement initiatives.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong leadership, coaching, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel (formulas, PivotTables, data analysis, and reporting), PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Teams.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience in a ferrous foundry, metal casting, machining, or heavy industrial manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of green sand foundry operations, including molding, coremaking, melting, pouring, casting finishing, and related manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with foundry process variables affecting casting quality, including sand properties, molding conditions, molten-metal characteristics, and process stability.
• Experience supporting ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code requirements and applicable UL, CSA, or other product certification programs.
• Experience coordinating internal, customer, regulatory, or third-party quality audits.
• Knowledge of PFMEA, control plans, statistical process control (SPC), measurement system analysis (MSA), error-proofing, and structured corrective-action methodologies.
• Experience managing nonconforming materials, corrective and preventive actions, supplier quality concerns, and customer quality issues.
• Experience leading Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, value stream mapping, and other structured improvement initiatives.
• Experience quantifying manufacturing cost reductions, scrap savings, productivity improvements, and other financial benefits associated with improvement projects.
• Knowledge of manufacturing financial metrics, including scrap cost, rework, material yield, productivity, and cost of poor quality.
• Experience supporting equipment and process validation, manufacturing trials, engineering changes, and new product introductions.
• Familiarity with ERP and quality management systems; JD Edwards experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop technical personnel, strengthen cross-training, and preserve institutional manufacturing knowledge.
• Experience working within a unionized manufacturing environment.
  
  

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, Business Administration, or a related technical discipline required.
• Equivalent combination of education and substantial relevant manufacturing quality and leadership experience may be considered.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or comparable structured problem-solving certification preferred.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) certification, such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), preferred.
• Additional training or certification related to ASME, quality management systems, manufacturing processes, or foundry operations is desirable.

Physical Demands

The demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Frequent standing and walking throughout an active foundry and manufacturing environment.
• Frequent computer and keyboard use while reviewing quality information, analyzing data, preparing reports, and performing administrative responsibilities.
• Ability to access manufacturing equipment, production areas, testing locations, and other operating areas throughout the facility.
• Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, and climbing as required to observe operations, inspect equipment, or support manufacturing activities.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials or equipment weighing up to approximately 25 pounds.
• Frequent verbal communication in manufacturing areas with elevated background noise.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment for extended periods while working in production areas.
  
  

Travel & Working Environment

• Primarily onsite at the Michigan City, Indiana manufacturing facility.
• Regular presence on the production floor is an essential component of the position.
• Work environment includes exposure to high temperatures, noise, dust, fumes, molten metal, heavy equipment, mobile equipment, and other conditions typical of foundry and heavy manufacturing operations.
• Required personal protective equipment may include safety footwear, eye protection, hearing protection, hard hats, heat-resistant PPE, and other equipment appropriate to the work area.
• Position requires flexibility to support production issues, quality concerns, audits, equipment evaluations, and other operational needs outside of normally scheduled hours.
• Minimal travel, generally less than 10%, may be required for training, supplier visits, audits, and visits to other company facilities.

How we live our culture

Our culture is at the center of what we do, and more importantly, who we are. Our core values set a standard for how we manage ourselves, and our Leadership Model sets the standard for how we engage with each other. Whether you are an individual contributor or you lead a large team, each of us leads. 

What Benefits do we offer?

We know that the well-being of our employees is integral. Our benefits include:

• Generous and flexible paid time off including paid personal time off, caregiver, parental, and volunteer leave
• Competitive health insurance plans and 401(k) match, with benefits starting day one
• Competitive and performance-based compensation packages and bonus plans
• Educational assistance, leadership development programs, and recognition programs

Our commitment to embrace diversity to build a culture of inclusion

We value different backgrounds, experiences, and voices, and we are committed to challenging ourselves, openly communicating, and striving to improve every day. We believe in creating an inclusive work environment where everyone has a voice and is encouraged to realize their fullest potential. 

We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer committed to making selection decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.