Quality Assurance & Cost Control (QA/CC) | Japanese Building Materials Company

A leading Japanese building materials company located in Glen Allen, Virginia is seeking a Quality Assurance & Cost Control (QA/CC)　position.

This position offers an opportunity to demonstrate your skills at a brand new factory in Virginia. We welcome applications from individuals looking to leverage their experience as a valuable asset.

<Job Summary>
The Quality Assurance & Cost Control supports product quality and process efficiency across both
painting and logistics operations at the Virginia plant. The role ensures continuous improvement
through planning, inspection, evaluation, auditing, and documentation in line with PDCA cycles.
In addition to quality assurance, this position contributes to standardization, training,
sustainability, digital transformation, and cost reduction, with a strong focus on customer
satisfaction.
This position will also serve as the financial steward of our production operations — responsible for
monitoring, analyzing, and controlling manufacturing costs to ensure optimal profitability,
operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making support.
Because this role requires frequent collaboration with headquarters in Japan, Professional-level
proficiency in Japanese is required to ensure smooth communication and alignment with corporate
standards

<Key Responsibilities>
1. Painting Operations
• Monitor painting process conditions and ensure compliance with standards.
• Inspect finished products for appearance, dimensions, and specifications.
• Assist in creating and adjusting production plans based on demand and inventory.
• Support audits of painting operations, compliance with SOPs, and propose improvements.
• Collect and analyze defect data, develop corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Draft, update, and maintain SOPs for painting operations.
• Propose and implement improvement measures to increase yield, productivity, and consistency.
• Maintain accurate records of inspection results, painting conditions, and quality data.
2. Manufacturing Cost Control
• Cost Analysis & Reporting o Monitor, analyze, and report on manufacturing costs including materials, labor, and
overhead.
o Conduct detailed variance analysis versus standard costs and budgets, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions.
o Provide regular cost reports and presentations to management, highlighting trends, risks, and cost-saving opportunities.
o Support monthly and year-end financial closings, ensuring accurate cost accounting records.
• Standard Costing & BOM Management
o Develop and maintain accurate standard costs and Bills of Materials (BOMs) for all products.
o Ensure that cost standards reflect actual production processes and update them as required.
o Analyze the impact of changes in product design, materials, or production methods on overall costs.
o Work with engineering and operations teams to improve cost visibility and data accuracy.
• Budgeting, Forecasting & Strategic Planning
o Develop and manage annual budgets for manufacturing cost centers.
o Assist in forecasting future cost trends, margins, and profitability scenarios.
o Support capital expenditure planning and ROI analysis for manufacturing investments.
o Provide financial insights to guide pricing strategies, make-versus-buy decisions, and operational planning.
• Process Improvement & Cost Optimization
o Identify and implement cost reduction initiatives without compromising product quality or delivery performance.
o Lead cost control workshops and collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize production efficiency.
o Support the implementation and automation of cost accounting processes in ERP systems.
o Participate in continuous improvement projects and provide financial input on process changes.
• Inventory & Compliance
o Oversee inventory valuation, cycle counts, and reconciliation of finished goods and WIP inventories.
o Ensure compliance with internal policies, GAAP/IFRS standards, and external audit requirements
o Maintain robust internal controls around cost accounting and manufacturing financial reporting.
3. Logistics Operations
• Conduct inbound inspections of purchased goods, components, and supplies.
• Perform outbound inspections of finished goods prior to shipment.
• Support the development of shipment schedules balancing deadlines and efficiency.
• Monitor inventory accuracy, conduct cycle counts, and support full physical inventories.
• Audit logistics processes to ensure compliance with SOPs and regulatory standards.
• Analyze logistics issues (shipment errors, damages, discrepancies) and implement preventive measures.
• Create, update, and maintain SOPs for logistics operations.
• Identify and implement process improvements in efficiency, quality, and cost control.
• Maintain records of shipments, inventories, and audit results.
4. Cross-Functional Quality & Process Improvement
• CAPA: Lead root cause analysis for defects, complaints, and non-conformances, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are implemented.
• KPI Monitoring: Track and report on quality and operational KPIs (defect rate, in-process failures, on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, logistics error rate).
• Standardization: Drive creation and revision of SOPs across painting and logistics, ensuring consistency and compliance.
• Interdepartmental Coordination: Align painting production plans with logistics schedules to prevent bottlenecks and delays.
• Traceability: Manage lot tracking, painting condition records, and environmental storage records for compliance and accountability.
• Audits: Support and sometimes lead internal audits; assist in external audits including ISO and customer audits.
• Customer Satisfaction: Ensure outbound product quality and on-time delivery meet or exceed customer expectations.
5. Training & People Development
• Conduct quality training sessions on inspection standards, defect handling, and documentation practices.
• Promote cross-training so painting staff understand logistics quality needs and logistics staff understand painting quality impacts.
• Provide feedback and coaching to reinforce process discipline.
6. Sustainability, Safety & Compliance
• Integrate environmental and safety considerations into QA activities
• Monitor compliance with regulations regarding VOC emissions, chemical handling in painting, and transportation safety in logistics.
• Propose and track initiatives to reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and optimize transport utilization.
7. Digital Transformation & Data-Driven Improvement
• Collect, consolidate, and analyze data from painting inspections, logistics tracking, and production performance.
• Support systemization of improvement proposals by gathering feedback from frontline staff and reporting results.
• Utilize digital tools such as IoT sensors, barcoding, or RFID for quality and logistics tracking.
• Prepare data visualization reports to support decision-making and management reviews.
8. Cost Optimization & Company-Wide Contribution
• Contribute to cost reduction initiatives by minimizing defects, optimizing inventory levels, and improving logistics efficiency.
• Act as a coordinator between departments when cross-functional issues occur (e.g., insufficient drying time delaying shipment).
• Support strategic goals by aligning daily QA activities with customer requirements and corporate objectives.

**Note: The responsibilities listed above are not intended to be exhaustive. The Quality Assurance & Cost Control position may be required to perform additional duties to support evolving business and technical needs.

<Requirements>
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of cost control or cost accounting experience in a manufacturing
environment.
• Proven track record in cost analysis, budgeting, variance reporting, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Experience with capital project evaluation and manufacturing financial planning is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of quality assurance concepts, process improvement, or logistics operations preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Office; familiarity with ERP, MES, or inventory management systems a plus.
• Professional-level proficiency in Japanese and business-level proficiency in English, to enable effective communication with both local teams and headquarters in Japan.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and teamwork skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally and internationally.
• Eagerness to learn and adapt in a cross-functional manufacturing environment.
• Project management and organization skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Experience with project financials and maintaining budgets
• Must be enthusiastic toward work, willing, and able to apply new techniques and methods of productivity and time management.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail, quality, and professionalism. Ability to handle responsibility and the pressure of meeting deadlines.
• Data analysis and data entry skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle (position will require travel in a personal vehicle).
• Travel by commercial airlines.
• Cross-cultural adaptability and flexibility (especially for Japan and Canada).
• Ability to learn new systems and develop product expertise quickly.

<Physical Requirements>
• While performing the duties of this role, the employee will split time between office work and on-site activities in the manufacturing (painting) and logistics (warehouse/shipping)
sections.
• In the office setting, the employee is regularly required to remain seated at a desk and operate a computer keyboard for extended periods (up to three hours at a time).
• In the plant environment, the employee must be physically capable of:
o Standing and walking for extended periods while inspecting production and logistics processes.
o Climbing stairs, accessing platforms, and working safely around machinery.
o Lifting and moving items weighing up to 40 pounds as part of inspection or sample handling.
• The position requires the ability to use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety shoes, safety glasses, hearing protection, and other protective gear as needed in manufacturing and warehouse areas.
• This role also occasionally requires visits to active construction job sites, where the employee must be able to move safely and confidently throughout the site and comply with all applicable safety requirements.
• The position does not involve extensive travel; however, occasional travel may be required for site investigations, training, or company meetings.
• Use of a personal vehicle is required for travel to destinations in Virginia, North Carolina, and the Mid-Atlantic region.

【Keywords】
①Quality Control/Quality Assurance
②Cost Control/Cost management
③Japanese Bilingual