Supplier Quality Assurance Engineer

The Supplier Quality Assurance and Development Engineer (SQADE) drives continuous improvement in supplier related activities and metrics and serves as a liaison between the supplier and the Company to ensure that outsourced material used in the production of Atlas Copco products meets Atlas Copco quality standards.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead Supplier Quality Assurance and Development related initiatives to maintain and improve Product Quality and improve Supply Chain Performance
• Perform external Supplier Audits that drive supplier performance improvement.
• Drive Supplier Development related initiatives by assisting them in developing problem-solving control tools such as: 8D, process mapping, FMEAs, mistake proofing, SPC, Process Capability/Cpk, GD&T, Gage R&R, etc.
• Maintain and use a variety of continuous improvement tools such as PPM reports, KPIs, non-conformance logs, FMEA, and process mapping to identify supplier quality problems and formulate action plans based on analysis of the data.
• Participate as needed in daily production meetings and investigate root causes of supplier-related production problems and then take appropriate action to address and resolve the issues.
• Participate as needed in Process Team Meetings, Technical Committee Meetings, and monitor Design Notifications to ensure robust design, supplier process capability, proper processing of obsoleted materials (e.g. returned to the supplier for credit or properly disposed), etc.
• Process rejections daily, ensuring that rejections are not ageing.
• Develop strategies to reduce the occurrence of rejected material.
• Identify under-performing suppliers and develop strategies designed to improve their performance to meet Atlas Copco standards.
• Communicate supplier issues to the purchasing group and recommend when vendor changes become necessary.
• Periodically provide comprehensive status reporting to senior management on supplier performance.
• Communicate to and follow up with suppliers on issues such as design and specification changes, failed first article inspections, non-conformance dispositions, and corrective action plans.
• Identify and inform engineering about issues related to product design/specification.
• Ensure supplier compliance with Atlas Copco ISO certification requirements and annual participation in surveys on topics such as the Atlas Copco Business Code of Practice, Restricted & Prohibited List and our Sustainability and Commitment goals.
• Follow the Atlas Copco "Safety First" policy with the vision of zero work related accidents.
• Take all necessary actions to employ sustainable processes to safeguard the Group's targets for Quality/Environment/Safety and Health.
• Review and process external requests for quality deviations. Insure the appropriate persons have signed the deviation and file them for future reference.
• Be involved in early Concept to Product phases and Design Reviews and in influencing and developing Supplier Agreements and requirements such as FAIRs/PPAPs, CofC/Material Certs, FMEAs, etc.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. We value diverse experiences and perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the role.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to read technical drawings, knowledge of machined parts and components, PCBA's, production operations and inspection techniques.
• Must be familiar with standard Mechanical Inspection techniques and tools.
• Understanding of ISO9001/ISO14001 Quality Management Systems.
• Extensive working knowledge of GD&T and ANSI Y14.5.
• Effective communication techniques and ability to communicate with technical and non-technical personnel, including purchasing, production, engineering, finance, and quality staff members.
• Knowledge of effective supplier evaluation techniques to identify failures using root cause analysis corrective action delivery and preventative measure implementation.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of computer productivity software such as Microsoft Office Suite and BPCS (or similar) ERP system.
• Experience operating in a regulated medical device (or similarly regulated) environment with supplier controls aligned to ISO 13485 purchasing/supplier management expectations
• Experience supporting compliance to strict industry codes (e.g., ISO13485, MDR,NFPA 99 and related medical gas / healthcare standards) is highly valued
• Demonstrated rigor around document/version control and data integrity expectations in regulated settings (e.g., maintaining "version-safe" controlled records suitable for ISO 13485 audits; ensuring systems/records cannot be manipulated post-release; supporting ALCOA+ style integrity principles).

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or electrical engineering. (Extensive experience may be considered in lieu of a degree)
• Training in Lean and Six Sigma concepts. (certification is a preferred)
• Five (5) years of experience working in a supplier quality role for a manufacturer of heavily engineered products.
• Successful track record of using continuous improvement tools, such as FMEA, Root Cause Analysis, SPC analysis, PPAP, APQP and process mapping to develop new or underperforming suppliers.
• Significant experience performing effective supplier audits.
• Significant experience leading Lean Six Sigma initiatives at suppliers and internally.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting, standing and walking.

Travel: Occasional travel may be required.

• Culture of trust and accountability
• Lifelong learning and career growth
• Innovation powered by people
• Comprehensive compensation and benefits
• Health and well-being
• 3 weeks paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance (starts first of the month after hire)
• Life & Disability insurance (fully paid)
• Generous 401(k) plan
• Maternity & Paternity leave
• Gym membership reimbursement
• Educational assistance
• $1,500 referral bonus
• Modern, state-of-the-art facility
• On-site self-service food market
• A workplace where employees grow and build long-term careers

This role requires you to work on-site at our office in Rock Hill SC, United States (US). You will be part of a dynamic team and enjoy the benefits of face-to-face collaboration.

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Talent Acquisition Team: Mariana Paredes