Supplier Development Engineer

Job Title

This position is responsible for improving Supplier Performance and supporting all supplier activities including production quality, new product launches, new supplier assessment, supplier resourcing, audits, and continuous improvement activities. This position will collaborate with Operations, Quality Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, and New Product Development with the aim to increasing PPAP approval rate, lowering scrap dollars, make recommendations for improvements, establish regular communication cadence, and support improved or expanded supplier capabilities.

Essential Job Functions

• Primary responsibility for the selection, onboarding, training, tracking and development of the supply base
• Serve as the primary quality assurance resource to the supply base for problem identification, resolution, change management and continual improvement
• Effectively communicate significant issues or developments identified during quality assurance activities with the supply base and ensure timely resolution
• Responsible for corrective action activities with all suppliers
• Support supplier inspection and testing of materials, parts and products to ensure adherence to standards
• Support supplier metrics – scrap dollars, percent credit recovery, OTD, and responsiveness
• Oversee supplier approval process –assessments, audits and approval for purchased products and components
• Provide input for acceptance criteria and future purchases from suppliers
• Maintain trip reports, open action lists and improvement plans
• Works with outside 3rd party inspection labs as required
• Lead, participate in, and champion continual improvement projects, kaizen events and cost reduction programs with supply base
• Travel to supplier locations
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in Supplier Development or related discipline
• Strong manufacturing, process, quality systems and root cause analysis experience required
• Injection molding experience highly desired; metal fabrication & painting, electronics, and plastic extrusion knowledge appreciated.
• Demonstrated experience in problem solving using formal methodologies (8D, A3 etc.)
• Demonstrated experience in supplier audits and selection
• Knowledge and application of AIAG quality tools (APQP: PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, etc.)
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to coach suppliers on latest revision of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensions and Tolerances (GD&T)
• Demonstrated experience in Supplier Risk Management
• Strong interpersonal communication skills needed
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems (Epicor preferred)
• Travel Required up to 35%, will vary throughout the year based on need

Additional Preferred Requirements

• Certification in Quality Management – ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
• ISO9001:2015 or IATF 16949:2016 Lead or Internal Auditor Certified
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt