Supplier Quality Engineer

Supplier Quality Engineer

Great Plains Manufacturing, a Kubota company, is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to join our team in Salina, KS. The role involves close collaboration with purchasing, sourcing, quality, and manufacturing to drive supplier quality improvements for new and current purchased components.

This is an on-site role based in Salina, KS. The schedule is typically Monday-Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some overnight travel outside of Kansas is required (up to 30%).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead supplier quality audits to ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Lead PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) activities from a technical perspective.
• Escalate unresolved quality issues as appropriate to facilitate resolution with vendors.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers while focusing on the improvement of product quality.
• Prepare and process product reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.
• Identify opportunity and necessity for internally-designed Quality Check fixtures.
• Maintain and report Supplier Scorecards.
• Recommend new or enhanced methods, procedures and standards.
• Support the development of New Product Engineering Test Plan and monitor the compliance of the plan related to critical suppliers.
• Participate in FMEAs (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), design reviews, and other New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.
• Lead advanced problem-solving endeavors.
• Travel expectations to meet with vendors include overnight travel outside of Kansas (up to 30%) and day trips within Kansas (up to 50%).
• Follow all Great Plains and OSHA safety regulations and wear prescribed safety and protective equipment.
• Other duties may be assigned that require additional qualifications, physical demands, and/or work environment.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; minimum of 3 years' experience working within a manufacturing facility as a part of an engineering or operations department; or combination of education and experience
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)
• Agriculture, Construction or Heavy Equipment manufacturing background helpful
• Demonstrated problem-solving expertise, including experience with precision measuring tools and mechanical troubleshooting
• Project management experience and proven ability to plan and deliver engineering projects
• Formal problem-solving certification a plus (e.g., Shainin Red X or Six Sigma)
• Propensity to build and manage relationships at all organizational levels, including senior leadership; exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Experience leading cross-functional quality or process improvement initiatives
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience in 3D modeling software (i.e. Creo, Solidworks, Inventor)

Great Plains Manufacturing, headquartered in Salina, KS, is a proud subsidiary of Kubota with more than 50 years as a Kansas leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of agricultural implements, including seeding, tillage, and landscaping equipment. Our new Construction Equipment Division adds Kubota-branded skid steers, compact track loaders, and CE attachments, supported by Kubota Construction R&D Engineering in Salina. Operating in eight Kansas communities with multiple divisions, including Great Plains Ag; Land Pride; Great Plains International; and the Construction Equipment Division, we employ over 2,000 people and are committed to innovation and professional growth.