Supplier Quality Manager

Job Overview:

Key Responsibilities:

1. Supplier Qualification & Development

- Lead supplier selection, onboarding, and qualification for mechanical components.

- Define and approve supplier capability requirements for:

- Sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining (turning, milling, grinding)

- Welded assemblies, castings, and forgings

- Surface treatments (plating, anodizing, phosphating, powder coating)

- Heat treatment processes

- Conduct supplier capability assessments and process audits (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, IATF

16949 / AS9100 where applicable).

- Ensure supplier compliance with technical drawings, GD&T, material standards, and process

specifications.

2. APQP, PPAP & First Article Management

- Drive APQP activities with mechanical suppliers from RFQ to SOP.

- Review and approve PPAP documentation, including:

- Design & process FMEA, Control plans, Process flow diagrams

- Dimensional layouts

- Material certificates (EN 10204, mill test certificates)

- Capability studies (Cp, Cpk)

- Manage FAI / ISIR / PSW approvals as per customer and industry requirements (AS9102, AIAG).

3. Incoming Quality & Non-Conformance Management

- Define incoming inspection strategies based on risk (AQL, skip lot, dock-to-stock).

- Review and disposition supplier non-conformances (NCRs, SCARs).

- Lead root cause analysis using 8D, 5-Why, and Fishbone.

- Ensure effective corrective and preventive actions with verification of effectiveness.

4. Supplier Performance Monitoring

- Establish and track supplier KPIs, including:

- Incoming quality PPM

- On-time delivery performance

- Response time to SCARs

- Audit scores

- Cost of poor quality (COPQ)

- Lead supplier performance reviews and escalation meetings.

- Drive improvement plans for low-performing suppliers.

5. Mechanical Process & Technical Oversight

- Review and approve manufacturing process controls for:

- CNC machining parameters

- Tooling and fixture design

- Welding WPS, PQR, welder qualifications

- Plating, coating, pretreatment, and curing processes

- Heat treatment cycles and furnace qualification

- Validate special processes as per industry requirements.

- Ensure control of critical characteristics, tolerances, flatness, parallelism, concentricity, and surface

finish.

6. Change Management

- Manage supplier-initiated and internal engineering changes (PCN / ECN).

- Ensure revalidation and reapproval of parts after:

- Tooling changes

- Process changes

- Material or supplier changes

- Maintain configuration control and traceability.

7. Compliance & Documentation

- Ensure suppliers comply with:

- ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 / AS9100

- Customer-specific requirements (CSRs)

- Regulatory requirements (RoHS, REACH)

- Maintain supplier quality manuals, agreements, and technical specifications.

- Support internal and external customer audits.

8. Cost Reduction & Risk Management

- Drive cost reduction through defect prevention, process capability improvement, and waste

elimination.

- Support VA/VE initiatives without compromising quality.

- Identify and mitigate supplier risks (capacity, quality, compliance).

9. Customer focus

- Understanding the customer requirements

- Driving suppliers to align to customer specific requirements

- Flow down of customer requirements to suppliers

- Identifying suppliers who meets customer requirements

- Coordinating with suppliers for any customer visits

- Coordinating with customers for addressing their issues and working with suppliers

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or technical certification in Mechanical (required)
• Six sigma certified

Key Interfaces:

• Procurement & Supply Chain
• Engineering & Design
• Manufacturing & Production
• Incoming Quality / IQC
• Customer Quality & Program Management
• External Suppliers

Experience:

• Minimum 10+ years of experience in mechanical supplier quality or manufacturing quality.
• Proficiency with end-to-end mechanical parts manufacturing processes
• Experience across sheet metal, machining, welding, casting, forging, and surface treatments.

Skills:

1. Strong knowledge of:

- Mechanical drawings & GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

- Materials (CRCA, HR, SS, Aluminum, CI, Alloy steels)

- Surface treatments and corrosion protection

- Heat treatment and metallurgical basics

2. Quality tools:

- APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC

- 8D, RCA, Pareto, control plans

- Six sigma

3. Standards knowledge:

- ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100

- ISO 2768, ISO 12944 (coatings), ASTM standards

Behavioral & Leadership Skills:

- Strong supplier negotiation and influencing skills

- Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities

- Ability to handle multiple suppliers and priorities

- Strong communication and presentation skills

- Leadership mindset with continuous improvement focus