Supplier Quality Engineer
This role entails assessing and ensuring the quality of products or materials from suppliers by performing audits, monitoring defect trends, and leading continuous improvement projects.
Supplier Quality Engineer
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Sample Job Descriptions for Supplier Quality Engineer
Below are the some sample job descriptions for the different experience levels, where you can find the summary of the role, required skills, qualifications, and responsibilities.
Junior (0-2 years of experience)
Summary of the Role
As a Supplier Quality Engineer, you will be part of a dynamic team responsible for ensuring the quality and reliability of materials and products supplied to our company. You will work closely with suppliers to maintain quality standards, perform audits, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
Required Skills
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in a team and collaborate with various departments.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and quality management software.
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new processes and techniques.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related field.
  • Familiarity with quality systems and standards such as ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, or AS9100.
  • Understanding of statistical analysis and process control methodologies.
  • Knowledge of manufacturing processes and techniques.
  • Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications.
Responsibilities
  • Assist in the development and implementation of supplier quality programs.
  • Conduct audits of supplier processes and quality systems.
  • Analyze supplier production and quality data to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality issues and implement corrective actions.
  • Participate in the supplier selection process by assessing potential suppliers' quality capabilities.
  • Monitor supplier performance and report on key quality metrics.
  • Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure supplier quality aligns with company standards and customer requirements.
Intermediate (2-5 years of experience)
Summary of the Role
The Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible for assessing and improving the quality systems of the company's suppliers to ensure they meet the required standards for producing high-quality products. The role involves working closely with the Procurement, Engineering, and Production teams to evaluate suppliers' processes and performance, conduct audits, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Required Skills
  • Proficiency in quality management systems and auditing.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Understanding of engineering and manufacturing processes.
  • Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies like Lean or Six Sigma.
  • Effective communication and negotiation skills with suppliers.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
  • Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Proficient in the use of quality software and statistical analysis tools.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
  • 2-5 years of experience in a quality engineering or supplier management role.
  • Experience with quality systems such as ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, or AS9100.
  • Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and statistical quality control.
  • Experience conducting supplier audits and managing corrective action processes.
  • Proficiency in utilizing quality tools such as FMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and Root Cause Analysis.
  • Knowledge of regulatory and industry-specific quality standards.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Responsibilities
  • Develop, implement, and maintain supplier quality programs.
  • Conduct supplier audits to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
  • Collaborate with suppliers to identify process improvement opportunities.
  • Analyze supplier production and quality data to assess performance and risk.
  • Drive corrective and preventive actions to address supplier-related quality issues.
  • Provide technical support to suppliers to improve their quality systems and processes.
  • Evaluate and approve new suppliers by conducting thorough assessments.
  • Monitor and report on supplier quality metrics to management.
  • Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure product specifications are met.
  • Ensure supplier compliance with company and industry quality assurance standards.
Senior (5+ years of experience)
Summary of the Role
As a Senior Supplier Quality Engineer, you will be responsible for managing and improving the quality of products and services provided by our suppliers. You will ensure compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements, collaborate with suppliers to enhance quality systems, and lead problem-solving efforts to address quality issues.
Required Skills
  • Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
  • Proficiency in quality tools such as FMEA, 8D, Root Cause Analysis, and SPC.
  • Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles and methodologies.
  • Project management skills and experience.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and quality management software.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in supplier quality engineering or a related quality assurance role.
  • Proven track record of successfully managing supplier quality in a manufacturing environment.
  • In-depth knowledge of quality management systems such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or IATF 16949.
  • Experience conducting supplier audits and leading corrective action processes.
  • Strong understanding of statistical analysis and process control methodologies.
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and implement quality standards and processes for evaluating the performance and compliance of suppliers.
  • Audit supplier facilities and quality management systems to ensure they meet company and regulatory requirements.
  • Work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and procurement teams to identify and resolve supplier-related quality issues.
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes with suppliers to address non-conformances.
  • Review and analyze supplier performance metrics to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
  • Manage and maintain Supplier Quality Agreements and related documentation.
  • Provide technical guidance to suppliers to improve product quality and compliance.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance supplier quality systems and processes.

Sample Interview Questions