Plant Quality & Manufacturing Engineering Supervisor
The Company
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We're a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow.
Named by Newsweek as One of America's Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today's leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe. We hope you'll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com.
If you're ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family!
If you are a current employee, please navigate here (http://www.myworkday.com/elkay/d/inst/13102!CK5mGhIKBggDEMenAhIICgYI1A0Q2AI~*nsH-3y_ndUM~/cacheable-task/2998$46522.htmld) to apply internally.
The Plant Quality & Manufacturing Engineering Supervisor - Lanark & Freeport (Shared) is responsible for leading plant level quality execution and ensuring that manufacturing processes consistently meet Zurn Elkay's Drinking Water quality, reliability, and compliance standards. This role serves as the primary owner of plant manufacturing quality processes, defect prevention, process capability, and quality-focused continuous improvement within the plant.
The leader in this role drives containment, maintains robust process controls, and ensures effective communication and escalation to BU Quality. They also supervise plant quality technicians responsible for inspection and verification activities and partner with Operations and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure quality is built into manufacturing processes rather than enforced solely through inspection.
Reports to : Director, Engineering and Quality
Location : Freeport, IL - splits time between both Freeport, IL and Lanark, IL facilities
Key Focus Areas
Owns all aspects of plant-level quality execution, ensuring products meet internal and external quality requirements.
Leads quality response activities, including containment leadership, defect management, and issue resolution.
Maintains and enforces adherence to quality standards, specifications, and inspection requirements.
Leads containment activities for internal and supplier-related nonconformances.
Ensures rapid deployment of containment actions to protect customers and prevent defect escape.
Drives root cause identification and verified corrective actions aligned with structured problem-solving methodologies.
Owns and maintains PFMEAs, Control Plans, and related process quality documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with current manufacturing practices.
Develops and governs inspection strategies, including sampling plans, methods, frequencies, and measurement approaches.
Oversees calibration and maintenance of quality measurement equipment.
Leads analysis of defect data, trends, and quality KPIs, identifying systemic issues and improvement opportunities.
Drives process capability understanding and improvements, including calculating and interpreting Cp/Cpk values.
Partners with manufacturing engineering and Operations to improve process stability and reduce defect variation.
Serves as key liaison between the plant and BU Quality, ensuring timely escalation of risks, customer-impacting issues, and emerging trends.
Supports BU-level quality initiatives, audits, and new product/process introductions.
Ensures alignment with BU and corporate quality systems, policies, and performance expectations.
Supervises, mentors, and develops plant quality technicians responsible for inspection execution.
Fosters a culture of quality ownership, continuous improvement, and proactive defect prevention.
Ensures cross-functional alignment with production, engineering, and supply chain partners.
Ensures accuracy of plant quality data and defect Pareto analysis to support plant quality performance monitoring and improvement
Qualifications / Requirements
Bachelor's degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or related Engineering discipline required
6+ years of experience in quality systems, plant quality, customer quality, or manufacturing quality roles
Demonstrated expertise in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), including DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, and PPAP readiness
Experience supporting new product launches and manufacturing or process transitions
Strong root cause analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement capability
Lean and/or Six Sigma experience required (Green Belt required; Black Belt preferred)
Experience in high-mix manufacturing, assembly operations, or regulated products preferred
Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
Total Rewards and Benefits
Competitive Salary
Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
Matching 401(k) Contribution
Health Savings Account
Up to 3 weeks starting Vacation (may increase with tenure)
12 Paid Holidays
Annual Bonus Eligibility
Educational Reimbursement
Matching Gift Program
Employee Stock Purchase Plan - purchase company stock at a discount!
THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Zurn Elkay, and we will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions.
Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation
What happens when two remarkable sustainability leaders come together as one?
A sustainability powerhouse is born, making a splash in the markets they serve and saving the planet one innovative installation at a time.
In early 2022, Zurn Water Solutions Corporation, a market leader in smart, sustainable water solutions, and Elkay Manufacturing, a commercial drinking water solutions leader, agreed to combine their two exceptional firms to become a single water solutions powerhouse.
Together, the combined company offers a comprehensive package of innovative, sustainable, specified, engineered water solutions and sustainable plumbing products that provide water safety, water quality, and water conservation through critical service environments, while delivering total building solutions for new construction and retrofit applications around the globe. Our innovative solutions enable customers to advance their ESG initiatives and reduce operating costs while providing students, patients, patrons, and people within public and private spaces a safe, clean environment and access to fresh, pure, potable water - the essence of life itself.
What makes Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation special is our people and our culture.
While playing a leading role in sustainability and water access are remarkable, what makes Zurn Elkay's story so compelling is the alignment of the two well-respected companies with powerful legacies and a combined 224-year company history and shared values and cultures where people matter most.
Sustainably inspired, the company has a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, water, and environmental stewardship, and giving back to the communities where we live, work and play. Our powerful legacy of caring and commitment is made possible by the exceptional people that embody Zurn Elkay's values.
We are looking for innovative, energetic people who want to help solve tomorrow's challenges today. Our Total Associate Engagement core value means we work hard to ensure our associates have opportunities to grow and an inclusive culture in which to thrive. From formal training to on-the-job development and exposure to new businesses, when you join Zurn Elkay, you will join a collaborative organization that will give you opportunities to thrive and grow.
