Job Requirements
Job Description
QA Lead – Studded Jewellery (Sourcing)
Department
Quality Assurance – Sourcing
Reports To
Head – Quality Studded Jewellery
Location : Mumbai (Travel to vendor locations across India and overseas as required)
Role Purpose
The QA Lead – Studded Jewellery (Sourcing) is responsible for developing and maintaining robust quality assurance systems across all sourced studded jewellery suppliers. The role ensures that every product sourced for Zoya, Tanishq, and Mia consistently meets Titan’s quality standards, brand specifications, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements.
The role partners closely with Sourcing, Product Development, Merchandising, Design, Vendor Partners, and Manufacturing teams to build preventive quality systems, strengthen supplier capability, minimise quality risks, and deliver superior product quality from development through commercial production.
Key Responsibilities
1. Supplier Quality Management
Develop and implement supplier quality management systems.
Qualify and onboard new manufacturing partners.
Conduct supplier capability assessments and technical audits.
Define supplier quality requirements and acceptance criteria.
Develop supplier quality scorecards.
Drive continuous supplier performance improvement.
Monitor supplier compliance with Titan quality standards.
2. Product Development Quality
Collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Product Development and suppliers to:
Conduct Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews.
Assess technical feasibility.
Identify quality risks during product development.
Validate prototypes and pre-production samples.
Approve Gold Seal and Pilot samples.
Ensure design intent is maintained during industrialisation.
3. Incoming Quality Assurance
Establish quality systems for incoming products covering:
Jewellery workmanship
Diamond quality
Gemstone quality
Metal quality
Hallmark compliance
Dimensions
Weight tolerance
Surface finish
Stone setting security
Functional components
Packaging quality
Develop statistically robust sampling plans and inspection standards.
4. Supplier Process Audits
Conduct regular audits covering:
Manufacturing processes
Process controls
Inspection systems
Traceability
Calibration systems
Training effectiveness
Housekeeping
Quality documentation
Continuous improvement initiatives
Drive closure of audit observations through effective CAPA.
5. Product Validation & Testing
Develop validation plans for:
Stone security
Clasp durability
Chain strength
Wear resistance
Rhodium/plating thickness
Mechanical performance
Dimensional accuracy
Packaging validation
Transit testing
Customer usage simulation
6. Vendor Development
Partner with suppliers to:
Improve First Pass Yield
Reduce defects
Reduce rework
Improve process capability
Standardise manufacturing practices
Enhance quality culture
Build technical competency
Support implementation of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
7. Customer Quality
Analyse:
Customer complaints
Product returns
Repair trends
Retail feedback
Service centre findings
Conduct Root Cause Analysis and implement Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
8. Quality Systems & Documentation
Develop and maintain:
SOPs
Inspection Standards
Product Specifications
Quality Control Plans
FMEA
PPAP documentation (where applicable)
Audit reports
CAPA records
Supplier quality manuals
Validation reports
9. Compliance & Governance
Ensure supplier compliance with:
BIS Hallmarking requirements
Titan quality standards
Responsible sourcing guidelines
Diamond and gemstone quality specifications
Ethical sourcing requirements
Environmental, Health & Safety standards
Internal quality systems
10. Cross-functional Collaboration
Work closely with:
Sourcing
Product Development
Merchandising
Design
Manufacturing Partners
Retail Quality
Customer Experience
Supply Chain
Logistics
Packaging
R&D
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Supplier PPM (Parts Per Million)
Incoming rejection rate
Supplier First Pass Yield (FPY)
Right First Time (RFT)
Supplier Audit Scores
CAPA Closure Effectiveness
Customer Complaint Rate
Product Return Rate
Repair Rate
Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
Supplier OTIF (On Time In Full)
New Product Approval Lead Time
Required Experience
10–15 years of experience in jewellery quality, preferably in sourcing or supplier quality.
Strong experience in studded jewellery manufacturing and quality assurance.
Experience managing multiple external suppliers.
Exposure to luxury and premium jewellery brands.
Hands-on experience in supplier audits, vendor development, and new product introduction.
Technical Competencies
Studded jewellery manufacturing processes
Diamonds and coloured gemstones
Gold metallurgy and alloys
Jewellery finishing and plating
Hallmarking standards
Quality Management Systems (QMS)
FMEA
SPC
MSA
PPAP
APQP
Root Cause Analysis
CAPA
Lean Manufacturing
Six Sigma
Statistical sampling techniques
Inspection planning
Behavioural Competencies
Supplier relationship management
Strong analytical ability
Decision-making
Negotiation and influencing skills
Attention to detail
Customer-centric mindset
Problem-solving
Coaching and mentoring
Cross-functional collaboration
Continuous improvement orientation
High integrity and accountability
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Jewellery Technology, Metallurgy, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.
Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt preferred.
Lead Auditor or Quality Management certification is desirable.
Success Measures
The QA Lead – Studded Jewellery (Sourcing) will be successful when:
Supplier quality performance consistently improves year over year.
Incoming quality defects and customer complaints are significantly reduced.
New products are launched Right First Time with minimal quality issues.
Supplier audits demonstrate sustained compliance with Titan quality standards.
Vendor capability is continuously enhanced through coaching and structured improvement initiatives.
Every sourced jewellery piece delivered to Zoya, Tanishq, and Mia reflects the highest standards of craftsmanship, quality, reliability, and customer delight.
This JD is structured for a senior sourcing quality leadership role and clearly differentiates it from a manufacturing QA role by emphasizing supplier quality management, incoming quality assurance, vendor capability building, and cross-functional collaboration across the sourcing ecosystem.
Work Experience 