About

About Vanguard

Built by Practitioners. Driven by Results.

Vanguard Quality Consulting was founded by quality professionals who spent decades inside manufacturing plants before becoming consultants. We know what works — because we’ve lived it.

Our mission

Our mission is to help manufacturers build quality systems that are genuinely useful — not just audit-compliant. We believe great quality management is a competitive advantage, not a compliance burden. Every engagement we take on is guided by one question: “Will this actually make your operation better?”

How We Work

Our Approach

01 Assess

We begin every engagement with a thorough assessment of your current state: your processes, your documentation, your team's capabilities, and your gaps. No assumptions. No boilerplate findings.

02 Design

Using assessment findings, we co-develop a tailored improvement roadmap with your team. Every solution is built around your real constraints — budget, headcount, production schedule.

03 Implement & Sustain

We don't hand off a plan and disappear. We work alongside your team through implementation and provide sustainment support to ensure gains hold long after we've left.

About myself

Our People

Meet the Team

Lead Auditor · CSSBB

Sarah Okonkwo

Managing Principal

Sarah brings 22 years of quality leadership across automotive and aerospace manufacturing. A certified Lead Auditor and Six Sigma Black Belt, she founded Vanguard after seeing too many manufacturers struggle with consulting work that didn't translate to the shop floor.

CQE · Lead Auditor

Marcus DeVries

Senior Quality Consultant

Marcus specializes in ISO 9001 implementation and supplier quality programs. With 16 years in medical device and food manufacturing, he's helped more than 60 facilities achieve first-time certification.

CSSBB · Lean Practitioner

Priya Nair

Process Improvement Lead

Priya leads Vanguard's process improvement practice, drawing on a background in industrial engineering and Lean transformation. She's fluent in VSM, FMEA, SPC, and 8D problem-solving.

CQE · Auditor Trainer

James Calloway

Training Director

James develops and delivers all Vanguard training programs. A former quality manager and certified internal auditor trainer, he has trained more than 1,200 quality professionals across North America.

Credentials

Credentials & Certifications

20+

Years Average Consultant Experience

Across automotive, aerospace, food & beverage, and medical devices

ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Certified

All senior consultants hold current Lead Auditor certification

ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)

American Society for Quality

Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)

ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt

IATF 16949 Internal Auditor

Automotive quality management system standard

Lean Manufacturing Practitioner

Certified Lean practitioner — value stream, Kaizen, SMED

Ready to Work Together?

Schedule a no-obligation consultation and let’s talk about what’s possible for your operation.