Supply Quality Engineering (SQE) Supervisor

SUMMARY

The SQE team is responsible for ensuring that all incoming materials, components, and semi-products comply with the end customer’s requirements. During the development stage, the SQE team collaborates closely with Engineering and sourcing teams to evaluate suppliers' capabilities in delivering quality products on time. In the production stage, the team handles any supplier defects, coordinates quick solutions to minimize production schedule impacts, and promotes source improvement. They also qualify and disqualify suppliers based on their performance.

The SQE Supervisor is accountable for overseeing all aspects of the Supplier Quality Assurance function to ensure compliance with the Quality Management System and Quality Policy. Their responsibilities include ensuring suppliers adopt best practices emphasizing defect prevention, reducing variation and waste, and driving continuous improvements to meet quality standards, thereby minimizing costs and maximizing customer satisfaction. Additionally, they provide leadership, exceptional people management skills, and guidance to the SQE team.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Key Responsibilities of the SQE Supervisor include:

Contribute to developing and implementing a best practice quality vision, strategy, policies, processes, and procedures to enhance operational performance.

Lead supplier development strategy, designing metrics for function and supplier performance.

General and Task Management:

• Participate in project development, conduct supplier validation audits, PPAP approval, and supplier advanced product quality planning (APQP).
• Promote customer-focused techniques for continuous improvement such as Lean, Six-Sigma, Poka-Yoke (Error Proofing), MSA (Measurement System Analysis), and FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis).
• Monitor and report on supplier product quality and performance, understanding commercial issues and impacts.
• Manage the root cause analysis and corrective actions process of supplier quality issues.
• Manage Supplier Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Conduct on-site supplier visits for root cause analysis and verification of corrective actions.
• Review and evaluate supplier quality data to identify process improvement opportunities within the supply chain.
• Collaborate with suppliers to create corrective action plans to address process failures.
• Lead quality audits for suppliers.
• Ensure compliance with and assist adherence to the Quality Management System (IATF16949/ISO9001)

People Management:

• Manage, coach, and develop a high-performing Supplier Quality team to achieve objectives and deliver best practice results and continuous improvements.
• Provide leadership, direction, management, and development to the SQE team.
• Set department objectives/KPIs and review ongoing performance of direct reports.
• Motivate and coach the team to operational success.
• Communicate KPIs from the strategic annual plan to ensure awareness.

Financial Budget and Control:

• Input and hold responsibility for Supplier Quality budgets.
• Ensure achievement of budget and forecast.
• Prepare the annual Supplier Quality budget and forecasts and manage the budget from project identification to completion.

Relationship Management:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to optimize performance.
• Collaborate, negotiate, and engage with key stakeholders to ensure compliance with the purchasing strategy.
• Communicate the impact of market changes and potential effects on engineering design and development to stakeholders.
• Participate in cross-functional teams for new product development or changes related to current products to meet customer requirements.

Other Functions:

• May perform other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Ability to manage various cross-functional team members.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Outstanding organizational and follow-up abilities.
• Competency in problem-solving, team building, planning, and decision-making.
• Business Savvy.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

The SQE Supervisor manages all employees of the SQE Team and is responsible for the performance management and hiring of the employees within that team.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand on a stool as necessary.

TRAVEL

0-10% travel is expected for this position.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Associate degree in relevant manufacturing/engineering field, bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably automotive industry.
• Experience in Quality Assurance.
• Experience dealing with customers and suppliers.

PAY RANGE