Summary:
The 1st Shift Quality Lead is a hands-on, floor-based role responsible for overseeing day-to-day quality execution across operations. This position ensures both outbound quality control of finished kits shipped to GM and inbound quality verification of components received from suppliers.
This role is designed to establish strong quality ownership on the production floor, enabling immediate response to quality issues and close coordination with operations. The Quality Lead will play a critical role in driving adherence to quality standards, supporting continuous improvement, and maintaining alignment between production and quality objectives.
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock packaging solutions:
Provide hands-on quality leadership on the production floor, ensuring all builds meet specifications and standardized work instructions
Maintain active quality presence across all production lines, including sample verification and enforcement of build standards
Perform and support inbound inspections of supplier components; promptly escalate and contain identified defects
Drive rapid containment, root cause identification, and resolution of quality issues to minimize rework and prevent shipment delays
Track, document, and report defects, discrepancies, and corrective actions with a strong focus on timeliness and accountability
Collaborate closely with Production and Operations teams to ensure build plans are executed correctly the first time
Reinforce adherence to process discipline and standard work across all shifts
Support visibility and reporting of key quality metrics, issues, and trends
Partner with Quality Management to investigate, address, and resolve quality concerns efficiently
Work cross-functionally with Sourcing and Replenishment teams to resolve non-conforming WIP materials
Oversees and ensures quality at the point of execution, maintaining line-side accountability and adherence to standards
Support operational needs through required overtime as necessary
Perform additional duties as assigned
what you need to succeed:
Able to Demonstrates a strong, hands-on, floor-driven leadership approach with active presence in operations rather than desk-based oversight
Able to work in a high-volume kitting environment, operating with a strong sense of urgency and prioritization
Must have strong problem-solving capabilities with a bias for immediate action and issue resolution
Holds teams accountable to established processes and performance standards, driving consistency and operational excellence
Experience working in quality, manufacturing, or logistics environments
Familiarity with basic quality processes, including inspection, defect tracking, and corrective actions
Exposure to manual assembly or kitting operations
Experience in automotive and/or customer-facing quality roles
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.
