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Quality Manager

Generac · Belvidere, IL · $119,300–$178,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you moved a plant or a line from a quality control mindset, catching defects after the fact, to a quality assurance mindset that prevents them. What did you actually change?

What they are checking: whether the candidate has real experience driving the QC-to-QA-to-operational-excellence transformation this role explicitly asks for, not just familiarity with the terms

Describe a time a supplier's quality issue was hurting your plant's output. How did you work with them to resolve it?

What they are checking: cross-functional and cross-company influence skill, since the role explicitly requires partnering with suppliers and corporate quality

Tell me about a time you had to coach or turn around an underperforming member of your quality team.

What they are checking: people management and mentoring ability, since the role requires 2+ years leading and coaching teams

Describe a cost of quality reduction initiative you led. How did you measure the savings and prove they were real?

What they are checking: whether they can tie quality work to financial outcomes, since cost of quality is named as an owned metric

Tell me about a Lean or Six Sigma project where the initial plan didn't work. What did you adjust?

What they are checking: honesty and adaptability in continuous improvement work rather than a rehearsed success story

What would you do

Say a customer complaint metric spikes right after a new product launch and the plant manager wants the line to keep running at full speed. What do you do?

What they are checking: how they balance production pressure against quality risk and whether they'll actually stop or slow a line when needed

You're getting pressure from two different plant functions with conflicting priorities on the same quality issue. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: ability to manage competing priorities and navigate a matrixed organization, which the posting flags directly

If you inherited a plant where quality standards exist on paper but nobody on the floor follows them consistently, what's your first 90 days look like?

What they are checking: how they'd approach the multi-year transformation mandate in this specific role, prioritization and change management skill

About the work

Walk me through how you'd set up capable, predictable, and repeatable processes on an assembly line that runs a high mix of products.

What they are checking: depth of hands-on knowledge of process capability (Cpk-type thinking) in a high-mix environment, since that's called out by name in the posting

Give me an example of an 8D or A3 you led on a real defect. What was the root cause and how did you confirm the fix actually held over time?

What they are checking: whether they can run structured problem solving to closure, not just start one and move on

How have you used APQP or a stage-gate process to catch quality problems before a product ever hits the floor?

What they are checking: whether their quality thinking extends upstream into product development, not just downstream inspection

How do you decide which quality metrics to put in front of senior leadership versus what you track day to day on the floor?

What they are checking: business acumen and ability to translate shop floor data into executive-level reporting

What's your experience pulling quality data out of an ERP or MRP system like SAP or Oracle, and how have you used it to drive a decision?

What they are checking: practical fluency with the specific systems named, versus just listing them on a resume

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Quality Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing facility wide quality assurance programs designed to ensure continuous improvement in production and conformance to all established standards in a high product mix environment. This role drives capable, predictable, and repeatable (CPR) processes throughout the product assembly process. The Quality Manager is responsible for coordinating and leading assigned resources and employees to meet or exceed company quality and business objectives. Responsibilities: • Lead a multi-year quality transformation, advancing the facility from Quality Control to Quality Assurance to operational excellence • Set and uphold quality standards to meet customer, regulatory, and Generac Quality Management System requirements • Own plant quality outcomes, including customer experience metrics, cost of quality reduction, compliance, and continuous improvement • Partner cross-functionally with plant, corporate quality, and suppliers to resolve issues and improve product and process quality • Establish quality goals, metrics, inspection/test methods, and standard tools; drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions • Report quality performance to senior leadership and customers while coaching teams and managing resources to achieve objectives Minimal Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations Management or Industrial Technology; • 5 years of progressive Engineering experience with a focus on quality management; • 2 years of experience leading, mentoring and coaching individuals and teams. Preferred Qualifications: • Master’s degree preferred; Quality Manager/Engineer certification and/or Six Sigma expertise • Strong ERP/MRP experience (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent) and working knowledge of Microsoft Office • Expert in Lean principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and cost-reduction initiatives • Deep knowledge of quality tools and processes (APQP, A3, 8D, 5 Whys, stage-gate product development) • Proven business acumen across high-mix/low-volume and high-volume/low-mix manufacturing environments • Experience working in global, matrixed organizations and collaborating across sites and functions • Strong analytical skills, data-driven decision making, ability to manage competing priorities, and mentor quality teams Great Reasons to work for Generac : • Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more • State-of-the-art facility with an onsite gym, walking trails, café, free parking and many employee activities • Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers • Pride! When a storm strikes, Generac employees always rise to the occasion. Each time a storm hits, many employees volunteer their time with the customer support team or on the production line, while others go right into storm-affected areas to repair generators • Make a positive impact. Generac has always been community-minded and dedicated to giving back. The company proudly offers a Volunteer Time Off program, inviting team members to participate in charitable volunteer opportunities on company time. • We believe in having fun. From minor celebrations to major events, our employees balance their work by building a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration through a variety of occasions, including our Fun Days. • We’re an inclusive company that celebrates differences and keeps equity and respect at the forefront. Generac is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices . The salary range for this role based in Belvidere, IL is $ 119,300 - $ 178,000 USD . This compensation will ultimately be in line with the location in which the position is filled . Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, certifications and geographic location . This role is eligible for variable compensation including short-term and long-term incentives. This position includes a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision plans; life, long-term disability, flexible spending and health savings accounts, accrued paid time off, 8 paid Holidays and 401(k) retirement benefits . “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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