supplier quality engineer

A Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for managing supplier quality from initial supplier qualification through to serial production. They work closely with suppliers to establish quality requirements, monitor production quality performance, and resolve any quality issues that may arise. The SQE ensures that suppliers adhere to industry standards, regulations, and company quality policies to maintain consistent product quality and reliability. They collaborate with cross-functional teams including purchasing, engineering, and manufacturing to implement corrective actions and drive continuous improvement in supplier quality processes.

1. Supplier Evaluation and Selection: Evaluate potential suppliers based on their capabilities, quality systems, and manufacturing processes.
2. Supplier Development: Work closely with suppliers to improve their processes, quality systems, and overall performance to meet the company's standards.
3. Quality Assurance: Ensure that suppliers adhere to quality standards and specifications through audits, inspections, and quality control plans.
4. Quality Problem Resolution: Investigate and resolve quality issues related to products, working collaboratively with suppliers and internal teams to implement corrective and preventive actions.
5. Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for process improvement within the product supply chain to enhance quality, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
6. Risk Management: Assess and mitigate risks associated with suppliers, including health & safety, sustainability, capacity constraints, quality fluctuations, supply chain disruptions.
7. Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate records of supplier performance, quality metrics, audits, and corrective actions. Prepare regular reports for management review.
8. Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams including design engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and logistics to ensure smooth integration of components into final products.

1. Experience: Several years of experience in supplier quality engineering or casting engineering roles in heavy industry.
2. Technical Skills: Solid understanding of manufacturing processes such as machining, welding, assembly, testing & painting. Knowledge of sand casting, investment casting, die casting, and their associated quality requirements, familiarity with metallurgy, heat treatment, and non-destructive testing techniques is beneficial.
3. Quality Standards: Proficiency in quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001), statistical process control (SPC), and other quality tools and methodologies.
4. EHS: Understanding of Health safety and environmental matters and ability to communicate requirements within the supply chain
5. Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify root causes of quality issues and implement effective corrective actions.
6. Communication: Excellent communication skills to interact effectively with suppliers, internal stakeholders, and management, both verbally and in writing.
7. Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
8. Team Player: Collaborative attitude and ability to work well within crossfunctional teams to achieve common goals.

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications may be preferred.
• 6-10 years’ experience in supplier quality engineering or casting engineering roles in heavy industry.
• Excellent communication skill in English language and ability to interact with global customers and internal stakeholders.

• To successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Required daily to stand, sit, walk, talk, hear, and see (specific close vision abilities are required to perform computer work).
• Required occasionally to stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.
• Required regularly to travel (usually by air or road so may be required to sit for extended periods), specifically to support other sites referenced in this description. Travel approximately 10-20%.
• Required daily to use hands and fingers and arms to reach (to operate a computer and telephone).
• Required occasionally to lift and/or move objects that are light to moderate.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to work with moderate noise (i.e., business office with computers, phone, and printers, etc.)
• Ability to work in an open planned office / individual office.
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for extended periods.
• Ability to sit in a car or on a plane for extended periods.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work required to perform this role.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required to perform this role.   Employees will be required to perform reasonable additional duties, that are not detailed on this job description, which fall within their scope of skills and experience. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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