Area Quality Manager

Job Purpose

The APM Area Quality Manager is responsible for upholding the highest quality standards across the APM Area. This role involves leading quality management initiatives, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving continuous improvement across all business functions and operations. The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader with a blend of hands-on and strategic quality management experience, strong interpersonal skills, and a comprehensive understanding of the APM market landscape.

Key Responsibilities & Activities

Area Quality Management & Compliance

• Lead and implement the Area quality strategy, ensuring alignment with global standards and objectives.
• Establish and maintain Quality Management Systems (QMS) in compliance with international standards (e.g., ISO 9001), regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.
• Drive process standardization to ensure consistency and compliance across the Area.
• Ensure operations comply with local regulations, corporate policies, and industry standards.
• Support audits and inspections by regulatory bodies, ensuring timely and effective responses to any findings.
• Monitor quality assurance programs to consistently deliver high-quality products and services.
• Track key quality metrics and KPIs, driving corrective actions when necessary to meet both Area and Global targets.
• Promote continuous improvement through Lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen methodologies.
  
  

Quality Culture & Improvement

• Develop and promote a strong quality culture across the organization, engaging all teams and communicating its importance.
• Set Area-specific quality targets aligned with global objectives and ensure continuous progress toward those goals.
• Oversee the implementation, monitoring, and continuous development of the KONE Quality Management System (QMS), tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Drive and ensure positive impact on customer and field quality improvement, i.e. Quality Issue Management (QIM) governance including analyzing feedback from frontlines and proactively gathering and analyzing other relevant data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Actively monitor audit execution and follow up on action plans across the Area. Provide direction and support for key corrective and preventative actions within the organization as needed.
• Develop and manage Quality CIT governance, identifying key improvement opportunities and lead or contribute to cross-functional improvement projects to drive overall quality and fostering a continuous improvement culture
• Leverage relevant data and metrics to prioritize resource allocation and focus efforts.
• Drive, support and coach quality experts in competency development and ensure competency growth within the Area.
  
  

Risk Management & Reporting

• Identify and mitigate quality-related risks across operations, products, and services.
• Develop and maintain a robust risk management framework to proactively address potential quality issues.
• Provide regular updates to senior management on quality performance, audit findings, and corrective actions.
• Ensure all quality documentation complies with corporate standards and regulatory requirements.
  
  

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (operations, supply chain, R&D, marketing) to integrate quality into all business processes.
• Serve as the liaison between local and global quality teams.
• Lead quality training and development programs to raise quality awareness and build quality expertise across the Area.
  
  

Skills, Experience And Education

Leadership & Experience:

• Strong regional leadership experience, with at least 7-10 years in quality management, including 5 years in a leadership role preferably within the elevator, escalator, or related heavy machinery industries.
• Proven ability in process, project, and change management, with excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Motivated to drive results in a fast-paced environment, influencing internal and external stakeholders to achieve common goals.
  
  

Quality & Technical Expertise:

• In-depth knowledge of Quality challenges from both business and internal perspectives, with a strong understanding of Quality Management Systems (QMS), standards, and regulations (ISO, etc.) specific to the APM Area.
• Deep knowledge of elevator/escalator systems, components, installation, and maintenance.
• Specialized certifications (e.g., EN81, ASME A17.1, ISO 25745) in elevator/escalator safety and installation are highly advantageous.
• Experience in troubleshooting, providing technical guidance, and ensuring timely resolution of quality issues related to performance, safety, and compliance.
• Risk Management: Proven ability to identify and mitigate quality risks, manage incidents, and implement corrective actions promptly.
• International & Multicultural Experience: Experience working in international, multicultural environments, with a strong ability to drive cultural change.
• Communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels effectively.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Expertise in leveraging data to drive quality improvements through root cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  
  

Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Certified Quality Manager (CQM), Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt), ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, or similar certifications.
  
  

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.
• Proactive, with a passion for driving quality and continuous improvement.
• Culturally aware, adaptable, and able to work across diverse teams and geographies.
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Travel across the APM Area will be required (approx. 25%-50% of the time).
• Flexibility in working hours to liaise with teams across different time zones.
  
  

At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.

Read more on www.kone.com/careers