PLANT QUALITY CONTROL MANAGEMENT

Ariston Group is a global leader in sustainable climate and water comfort, listed on Euronext Milan. In 2025 the group reported 2.7 billion-euro revenues, with almost 11,000 employees, direct presence in 41 countries in 5 continents, 32 production sites and 31 research and development centers. The group demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through renewable and high-efficiency solutions, including heating heat pumps, water heating heat pumps, hybrids, domestic ventilation, air handling, electric components, and solar thermal systems, while continuously investing in technological innovation, digitalization, and advanced connectivity solutions. The group operates under global strategic brands Ariston, Wolf and Elco, and brands such as Calorex, NTI, Atag, Domotec, Brink, Chromagen, Racold, as well as Thermowatt and Ecoflam in the components and combustion technologies business.
 

About Ariston Group and our presence in Marche region.

Ariston Group is a global leader in sustainable climate and water comfort. Founded in Fabriano in 1930, the Group maintains deep industrial roots in the Marche region. Today, Marche hosts five production sites and a network of Research & Development centers, bringing together long-standing manufacturing expertise and new capabilities. The regional footprint includes sites in Cerreto, Genga, Arcevia, Osimo and Albacina. 

In 2025, the Group further strengthened this presence by opening its first electronics factory in Arcevia, supporting the in-house production of electronic boards and the development of increasingly connected, electrified and technologically advanced solutions. The Group is also investing in the new Albacina factory for next-generation electric water heaters, designed around advanced production technologies, World Class Manufacturing principles and an intelligent digital ecosystem, with full operation expected by the end of 2026. 

This integrated industrial ecosystem is central to Ariston Group’s ability to deliver innovation, quality, flexibility, customer service and operational excellence. To support our business objectives and the continued transformation of manufacturing in Marche, we are looking for quality leaders who combine rigorous standards with a forward-looking approach to customers, production, technology and continuous improvement.

Role purpose 

Reporting hierarchically to the Plant Director and functionally to the Quality Assurance Director, the Plant Quality Control Manager is accountable for the effectiveness, development, monitoring and continuous improvement of the plant quality management system. The role safeguards product and process conformity throughout the manufacturing flow and drives action to improve customer satisfaction and quality performance.

The Plant Quality Manager leads the plant quality team and works closely with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, HSE, Logistics, Procurement, R&D and Group Quality. The role combines rigorous quality governance with hands-on support to operations, ensuring that new products, engineering changes, new technologies and footprint transitions are introduced with robust controls, validated processes and stable performance.

Key responsibilities 

Quality management system and governance 

• Ensure the proper functioning, development, monitoring and continuous improvement of the plant quality management system in line with Group standards and applicable requirements. 

• Plan and coordinate management reviews, internal and process audits, and external certification or product-compliance audits, ensuring timely closure and verified effectiveness of actions. 

• Maintain quality procedures, control plans, standards and records, ensuring clear ownership, document control and consistent shop-floor application. 

• Report transparently on quality performance, risks, priorities and resource needs. 
• Management and supervision of the company's quality procedures, standards and specifications: ISO 9001

Product and process quality 

• Supervise quality from incoming inspection through manufacturing, final inspection and product release. 

• Ensure effective controls, statistical process control and product testing, using capability and trend analysis to prevent defects. 

• Monitor scrap, rework, first-pass yield, defects and non-conformities, leading root-cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions. 

• Manage non-conforming, on-hold and quarantined products, ensuring traceability, risk assessment and timely disposition. 

• Supervise internal process conformity and reinforce process discipline. 

Customer and supplier quality 

• Support Quality Assurance in managing plant-related customer claims, ensuring rapid containment, fact-based analysis, corrective action and lessons learned. 

• Work with suppliers and Procurement to review quality performance, agree improvement plans and verify effectiveness. 

• Translate customer feedback, audit findings and field-quality insights into preventive action. 

• Promote a customer-focused mindset across the plant. 

New products, engineering changes and footprint evolution 

• Lead the quality workstream for New Product Introduction and Engineering Change Requests. 

• Define and execute validation plans for new or transferred equipment, processes, tooling and products, including pre-series controls. 

• Lead/support quality preventive activities such as DFMEA/ PFMEA in collaboration with R&D, quality control plan in collaboration with Quality assurance, supply QCP in collaboration with SQA, QA network in collaboration with Production manager

• Support new technologies and footprint transitions, identifying risks early and assuring stable quality during transfer and ramp-up. 

• Partner with R&D, Industrial Engineering and Production to design quality into processes.

Continuous improvement and WCM 

• Lead the Quality Control pillar within the World Class Manufacturing plant organization. 

• Drive advanced problem solving, quality matrices, process audits, statistical methods and preventive quality techniques. 

• Coordinate plant quality meetings and disciplined review of KPIs, abnormalities and actions. 

• Use data and digital tools to improve visibility, traceability and early-warning capability. 

• Share standards and best practices across the Marche sites and Group Quality communities. 

People leadership and quality culture 

• Lead, coach and develop the plant quality team, ensuring clear roles, priorities and accountability. 

• Build quality capability across Production and other functions through training and coaching. 

• Promote a preventive and proactive culture in which deviations are surfaced early and facts guide decisions. 

• Act as a credible quality partner to the Plant Director and production leadership, constructively challenging decisions when risks require action. 

Experience and qualifications 

• Master’s degree in Engineering or a comparable technical discipline. 

• At least 7 to 10 years of relevant experience in plant quality, manufacturing quality or a similar industrial role. 

• Solid knowledge of quality management systems, manufacturing quality processes, quality-control methods, statistical process control and product testing. 

• Advanced capability in structured problem solving, root-cause analysis, corrective and preventive action, PFMEA and process capability. 

• Knowledge of Total Quality Management and Six Sigma; Black Belt-level competence is an advantage. 

• Experience with World Class Manufacturing, including the Quality Control pillar, is an advantage. 

• Knowledge of metal stamping, welding, enameling, painting, polyurethane injection, assembly or automation is an advantage. 

• Basic knowledge of mechanical, electrical, electronic and software-related product and process considerations. 

• Good understanding of health, safety and environmental principles applied to production. 

• Fluency in Italian and professional proficiency in English. 

Leadership profile 

• Customer-focused and uncompromising on product and process integrity, while remaining pragmatic and close to operations. 

• Preventive and data-driven, able to move the organization from containment toward stable process control. 

• Analytical and structured, able to turn complex findings into sustainable countermeasures. 

• Credible and constructive in challenging decisions, escalating risks and influencing leaders. 

• A people-focused leader who develops technical capability and cross-functional accountability. 

• Organized and resilient in managing audits, claims, changes and deadlines. 

• Curious about new technologies, digital quality tools and continuous improvement, with an entrepreneurial mindset. 

LOCATION: Marche, Italy

The compensation package will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, skills and the scope of the role, applying objective and gender‑neutral criteria. We believe that transparency and fairness are essential to building trust, fostering inclusion and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.As a reference, for such position we offer a salary ranging between 52.000 € and 77.000 €. You will also be part of the Ariston Group short-term incentive program. This position is covered by the CCNL Metalmeccanici Industria. 

We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all people. We strive to provide a work environment that is accessible, welcoming and inclusive, in full compliance with applicable legal requirements. In line with this commitment, we promote fair, transparent and equitable reward practices.  The compensation package will be determined based on the experience, skills and the scope of the role, applying objective and gender‑neutral criteria. We believe that transparency and fairness are essential to building trust, fostering inclusion and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.