Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager
Walter Tools — Greer, South Carolina
Solid Carbide Drills Manufacturing & Reconditioning
About Walter Tools
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Tübingen, Germany, Walter has over 100 years of expertise in precision cutting tools for milling, turning, grooving, drilling, and threading. With 3,800 employees and customers in more than 80 countries, Walter combines global reach with deep Engineering Kompetenz. Our Greer, SC production unit manufactures Walter Titex solid carbide drills and operates a key reconditioning center for drills and endmills across North America.
About the Role
Walter Tools has an opportunity for a Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager at our Greer, South Carolina production facility. This role leads the Quality function and drives the continuous improvement culture across our solid carbide drill manufacturing and reconditioning operations. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, deep manufacturing quality expertise in precision machining environments, and a hands-on approach to building quality systems and Lean/CI programs that deliver measurable results.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Management
Lead and develop the quality team, building technical capability, accountability, and a culture of quality ownership across the production floor
Oversee incoming, in-process, and final inspection activities to ensure product conformity for solid carbide drills and reconditioned tools
Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions to reduce defects, scrap, and cost of poor quality using structured problem-solving methodologies (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone)
Ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and internal Quality Management System requirements; maintain and improve the site’s QMS documentation and audit readiness
Lead supplier qualification and performance improvement processes and manage corrective action requests
Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain to improve process capability, grinding quality, and reconditioning consistency
Monitor and report key quality KPIs including scrap rate & cost, rework cost and customer complaints
Ensure compliance with carbide tool inspection standards, CNC grinding tolerances, coating quality, and reconditioning service acceptance criteria
Manage customer complaint resolution process; lead investigations, coordinate responses, and implement preventive actions to eliminate recurrence
Support new product introduction (NPI) and production transfers by defining quality gates, inspection plans, and process validation requirements
Continuous Improvement
Lead and coordinate Lean and continuous improvement projects across all departments of the Greer production site, including manufacturing, reconditioning, logistics, and support functions
Drive a structured CI program using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies to reduce waste, cycle time, and variability across production processes
Facilitate and coach cross-functional CI teams; build internal capability in problem-solving and process improvement tools
Track CI project progress, measure financial and operational impact, and present results and roadmap updates to Walter and Sandvik headquarters
Champion a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety where employees at all levels are empowered to identify and solve problems
Benchmark best practices across Walter and Sandvik global sites; identify and implement relevant improvements for the Greer facility
Environment, Health & Safety (EHS)
Serve as the primary responsible party for all EHS activities at the Greer production site, owning the site’s EHS program, compliance obligations, and safety performance outcomes
Champion a zero-accident safety culture aligned with Sandvik’s vision of zero workplace accidents; ensure EHS is embedded into daily operations across all departments
Chair all site EHS committees; lead safety meetings, drive corrective actions, and report EHS performance to site leadership and Walter and Sandvik headquarters
Ensure full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local EHS regulations (OSHA, EPA) as well as Sandvik and Walter internal EHS standards
Own and continuously improve the site’s EHS management system in alignment with ISO 14001 and ISO certification requirements
Lead all incident investigations using root cause analysis methodologies; implement corrective and preventive actions to eliminate recurrence
Conduct regular safety audits, risk assessments, and hazard identification walks across manufacturing and reconditioning areas; escalate and close findings
Own and manage all EHS training programs to ensure all employees are properly trained on safety procedures, PPE requirements, and emergency response protocols
Define, track, and report key EHS KPIs including recordable incident rate (TRIR), near-miss frequency, lost time incidents, and environmental compliance metrics
Oversee proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials used in solid carbide grinding operations, including coolants, grinding oils, and carbide dust
Your Profile
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing preferred); or equivalent experience in a precision manufacturing environment
5–8+ years of experience in manufacturing quality in a precision machining, cutting tool, or similar high-precision environment
3+ years of leadership experience managing quality personnel and cross-functional improvement teams
Solid understanding of CNC grinding processes, solid carbide tool manufacturing, or reconditioning services is a strong advantage
Demonstrated experience leading root cause analysis, corrective action, and process improvement initiatives
Working knowledge of ISO 9001 QMS requirements and audit management
Proficiency in data analysis tools (Excel, Power BI, or similar); strong written and oral communication skills in English
Preferred Qualifications
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Manager (CQM)
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
Lean certification or demonstrated experience leading Lean transformation projects
Experience working within a global manufacturing group and reporting to international headquarters
Technical Skills & Competencies
Root Cause Analysis: 8D, Fishbone, 5-Why
Lean tools: Value Stream Mapping, KANBAN, SMED, 5S, Kaizen
Statistical Process Control (SPC) and process capability analysis
Metrology, inspection systems, and measurement equipment used in precision tool manufacturing
Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities (Excel, Power BI, or similar)
Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP preferred) for quality and nonconformance tracking
Benefits We Offer
Excellent 401(k) plan: company match of ½ up to 3% PLUS 5% company contribution every paycheck
Company-paid life insurance at 2x annual salary and company-paid Short-Term Disability
Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance plus many elective benefits
100% Tuition Reimbursement and generous employee referral program
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), paid parental leave, and 11 paid holidays
Our Culture
At Walter Tools and Sandvik, safety, quality, and people are at the heart of everything we do. We believe different perspectives drive creativity, so we invest in learning together and supporting each other in a dynamic and inclusive work environment. We are equally proud of our precision manufacturing roots and our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. We look forward to meeting you!