Supplier Quality Manager

Based on site in our Muscle Shoals office you'll own and deploy best practice quality engineering process, tools and techniques. This includes supplier appraisal and selection, advanced product quality planning, supplier assessment, non-conformance management, supplier performance metrics and continuous improvement. 

In this highly visible hands-on role, you'll work closely with both internal stakeholders and external providers, and become the primary contact for supplier issues and set the standard for Quality in the production supply chain. 

Responsibilities Include: 

• Develop the company’s supplier quality assurance process and procedures to meet the needs of the business and satisfy the requirements of appropriate standards 

• Support the set up and maintenance of an approved supply chain including the initial identification processes and methodologies for potential suppliers with both engineering and supply chain teams 

• Conduct supplier capability assessments (SCA) in support of an informed approach to supplier selection and continuous improvement 

• Provide quality oversight and input to negotiations and contracts reviews with key suppliers and contract manufacturers 

• Establish good relations with the supplier’s quality representatives and become a trusted partner 

• Drives supplier quality input to ‘made to specification’ design reviews and works with the stakeholders to ensure the supplier quality risks across the programme are understood and under control 

• Communicate supplier feedback and progress to relevant internal stakeholders, escalating issues as appropriate 

• Support the Supply Chain team to establish and develop quality procedures and documentation to ensure compliance, accuracy, efficiency, and clarity of requirements with suppliers 

• Development of, and management of the non-conforming material, and associated supplier RCA investigation processes to ensure effective data analysis and reporting is provided to the engineering teams 

• Ensures supplier’s adherence to all relevant regulatory legislation and provides approval of all supplier quality documentation 

• Drive and support suppliers in continuously improving quality and performance 

• Determination and definition of incoming inspection process and requirements. Ensuring process adherence, performance compliance and traceability 

• Analyses internal and external quality data, documents, and acts on opportunities for improving reliability and quality 

• Identifies ways of eliminating unsatisfactory performance, doing things better, cheaper, and/or faster whilst maintaining reliability and quality 

• Able to lead / facilitate targeted improvement initiatives, such as process / value stream mapping or rapid improvement / kaizen events. 

Requirements

• Experience working in a complex electronics quality role 

• Strong supplier negotiation, engagement and management skills 

• Lead auditor / auditing qualification to ISO9001 and / or AS9100 

• Experience of managing projects through use of APQP 

• Capability to generate, manage and review PPAP and FAI documentation 

• Ability to facilitate Process Failure Mode Effect Analysis 

• Familiar with problem solving techniques (5Y, 8D, Ishikawa etc.) 

• Demonstrated in field experience of supplier evaluation, auditing, development, and management of performance metrics 

• Must be detail focused but with the ability to multitask, and to manage deliverables and handle multiple projects at the same time 

• Confident with working across multifunctional teams and excellent communicator to colleagues both verbally and in writing 

• Experienced user of Microsoft office, must be able to manipulate and analyse data within excel 

• Must have high integrity, be a team player and have good interpersonal / facilitation skills to drive resolution of issues with suppliers 

• Ability to travel on request to support supplier quality assurance activities (Estimated 30%) 

• Degree or equivalent professional training in Quality Management / Engineering discipline/s 

• Qualification in Six Sigma / Total Quality Management tools 

• IPC A-610 qualification or experience in quality assurance of electronic assemblies 

• QA experience in development of high frequency / telecommunication products 

• Knowledge of RoHS & REACH directives 

• Experience in the use and configuration of ERP / MRP systems 

• Understanding and experience of advanced statistical techniques 

Benefits

• Excellent Compensation package inclusive of competitive salary, 401(k) plan, healthcare and 25 days holiday in addition to the US Bank holidays.
• Bonus package
• Career development training opportunities (in house and external)
• Employee Referral scheme