Quality Manager – Footwear Manufacturing
Location: Thailand
Position Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Salary: 120,000 – 150,000 THB / month
About the Role
Our client, an established international outdoor and lifestyle footwear brand, is seeking an accomplished Quality Manager to take operational and strategic ownership of end-to-end QA/QC processes at a premier manufacturing facility in Thailand.
In this leadership role, you will champion technical excellence, sustainable manufacturing standards, and continuous improvement across performance outdoor, trail, and casual footwear lines distributed worldwide.
Key Responsibilities
- End-to-End Quality Leadership: Direct complete QA/QC operations across incoming raw materials, cutting, stitching, lasting, moulding, cementing, and packaging lines.
- Compliance & Sustainability: Enforce chemical safety and eco-conscious material compliance, auditing sustainable material sourcing, environmental standards, and RSL/REACH parameters.
- Lab Governance: Oversee in-house physical and mechanical testing facilities in accordance with SATRA standards, governing bond peel strength, flex resistance, slip resistance, and abrasion testing.
- QMS & Process Control: Maintain and improve ISO 9001-aligned systems, utilizing Statistical Process Control (SPC) and rigorous AQL inspection protocols across production cells and component suppliers.
- Continuous Improvement: Lead cross-functional root cause analysis (8D, 5 Whys) and Lean initiatives to eliminate construction defects, ensure fit consistency, reduce scrap, and implement mistake-proofing (Poka-Yoke).
Requirements
- Industry Experience: 7–10+ years of dedicated quality management experience in industrial footwear manufacturing (athletic, outdoor, or cemented/direct-attach footwear).
- Technical Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of footwear construction methods (strobel, board lasting, cold cement/injection bonding), tooling, materials, and anatomical fit standards.
- Testing Standards: Track record directing physical, mechanical, and chemical testing adhering to SATRA, ASTM, or ISO standards.
- Quality Methodologies: Solid command of ISO 9001, AQL inspection methods, PFMEA, SPC charting, and structured CAPA frameworks.
- Communication & Leadership: Full professional bilingual proficiency in English and Thai (written and verbal), with proven capability to lead plant teams and partner with senior stakeholders.