Employee Spotlight Series

Manish Kothawade

Plant Quality Manager
Lear Hammond

How did you learn about Lear and what interested you in working for the company?

I first became familiar with Lear while working for one of its suppliers, where I saw firsthand the company's commitment to quality and high standards. When the Plant Quality Manager position opened at Lear Hammond in 2024, I was excited by the opportunity to lead quality initiatives at a high-volume seating facility and contribute to the company's continued success.

What is your proudest moment at Lear?

I'm most proud of helping our team significantly improve quality performance at Lear Hammond. Through collaboration across production, engineering, materials and our suppliers, we strengthened our quality management processes, improved customer quality performance and achieved zero nonconformities during our IATF 16949 audits. Seeing our team embrace new tools and proactively solve problems has been especially rewarding.

What are some of your interests outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Prajakta, and our son, Sriyan. We love traveling and exploring national parks, historical landmarks and cultural sites. I'm also passionate about sharing my knowledge of quality management through writing and mentoring. As an active member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), I enjoy helping early-career professionals grow and develop their skills.