In quality, the loudest voice rarely wins. The person who wins is easy to find, speaks clearly, and delivers practical know-how. A personal brand in quality isn’t vanity—it’s a career accelerator: faster trust with customers, more leverage in negotiations, and smoother day-to-day collaboration.
When you build it well, interesting projects come to you—because you’re recognizable, concrete, and associated with results.
Define your positioning (so people know what you’re “for”) — One sentence about you
An example could be:
“I help automotive plants reduce PPM and close 8Ds on time. Core tools + QRQC + common sense.”
Three content pillars (your guiding themes)
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Problem solving: 8D, A3 & QRQC.
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Systems & customer: PPAP/APQP, audits, deviations, a given customer’s CSR (a useful skill you can also “sell” internally as a trainer—I did this for two manufacturing plants).
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Data & tools: SPC/MSA, metrology pro tips, AI in quality (prompts, automations). With this set, after three posts people know exactly why they should contact you.
A LinkedIn profile that works for you
A personal brand in quality is also visual. Why? Because your profile photo is the first touchpoint. Go for a simple, daylight shot with no distractions in the background.
Frame from chest up, a slight smile, neutral background (blurred office/production), and attire consistent with how you show up to customers. Avoid selfies and heavy filters; your face should take up most of the frame and be well lit. Remember LinkedIn’s circular crop—leave some “air” around your head so nothing gets cut off on different devices.
Treat the banner like a billboard: one clear message + three keywords. A short claim (e.g., “I help suppliers pass audits”) and beneath it specializations separated by dots: “8D • PPAP • QRQC.” Keep the background subtle: a shop-floor motif, a close-up of dimensional inspection, or charts/metrics as a light graphic—so the visuals don’t drown the text.
Mind the contrast. Keep the text to the right/center so it isn’t covered by the profile photo circle. Finally, test on a phone: if the banner is readable in 2–3 seconds, it will “work” for you.
My Pro Tip #1: I always use the free version of Canva to create LinkedIn background banners. You’d be surprised how many people still don’t take advantage of this.
Pro Tip #2
Did you know you can create your LinkedIn profile in multiple languages? Use Add profile in another language (top-right area of your profile). Visitors with LinkedIn set to English will see your English profile; users with Polish will see the Polish version. It’s a simple way to be discoverable—and readable—for both audiences.
One limitation: the banner image is global (you can’t localize it per language), and the same applies to the single profile link. Keep the banner text language-neutral or use a concise claim that works in both languages.
About — a profile that speaks in results
Treat About like an elevator pitch split into 4–6 short paragraphs. Start with one sentence: what you do, for whom, and the outcome (e.g., “I help automotive suppliers pass audits without escalation and cut PPM by 50% in 3 months.”).
Next, list three core competencies—plain language, no buzzwords: core tools (FMEA, Control Plan, MSA/SPC), process/supplier audits (IATF/VDA 6.3), customer/Tier-1 collaboration.
Third paragraph = proof in numbers: two short cases, e.g., “PPM 420→90 in 12 weeks; ‘zero majors’ in a customer audit.”
Fourth—working in international teams: UK/DE/US projects, CSR familiarity (as required under IATF), and how you keep PPAP consistent.
Fifth—CTA: “Happy to share my 8D/PPAP templates or a process audit checklist—DM me.”
Personal Brand in Quality — How often to post on LinkedIn?
Start smart, not “often.” A solid cadence is 2 posts/week (Tue–Thu, 8:00–10:00) plus 10 thoughtful comments on others’ posts. That pace builds presence without burnout, and comments grow reach faster than posting into the void. Keep the rhythm for 4–6 weeks, see what lands (topics, formats, length), then adjust frequency. Goal: steady visibility that builds expert reputation—not random dumps.
Use this golden post structure:
Thesis/Takeaway (1–2 sentences—why read).
Gemba context (brief shop-floor story, no sensitive data).
3–5 “how-to” bullets (tools/steps—e.g., 8D, PFMEA→Control Plan, LPA).
Simple visual (sketch/checklist via Canva or an LLM).
CTA (“Want the checklist? Comment/DM and I’ll send a PDF.”)
9 post ideas (automotive quality)
Running out of ideas for substantive automotive quality posts that people will actually read and save for later? Here are 10 ready-to-use topics:
8D: 5 mistakes in D2/D4 that wreck a report.
QRQC in 15 minutes: a ready run-sheet for a line-side meeting.
PPAP: what customers actually read in your package.
PPM: 3 calculation traps (and how to explain them to a customer).
MSA: a quick “mini-Gage R&R” before the debate starts.
FMEA: 7 questions I ask when S/O/D “gets stuck.”
Deviations: when it’s “yes, if…” and when it’s a hard “no.”
Customer audit: 6 things to show before they even ask.
What to avoid on LinkedIn
LinkedIn can build your expert brand—or chip away at it fast. Before you hit Post, check you’re not building a wall of self-promo with zero value, sharing others’ content without commentary (or permission), dropping empty “awesome, congrats” comments, going ad personam, or—worst—revealing confidential data.
Common pitfalls to skip:
A self-promo wall with no takeaways.
Sharing others’ work without commentary/credit. Don’t copy images to pass off as your own—unethical and visible.
“Super, congrats” comments—add why it’s good or what you learned.
Personal spats—stick to facts and gemba experience.
Posting confidential info (even accidentally)—risk > reach.
A personal brand in quality = clear positioning + useful content + calm, substantive networking. Keep the rhythm (2 posts/week + 10 good comments) and protect confidentiality; in 90 days you’ll see the first effects: more invites, smoother customer negotiations, and fewer “do you have a template?” emails—because you’ll be the person who has and shares.
Because you’ll be the one who has—and shares.
Author: Dariusz Kowalczyk
