Supplier Quality Engineer
Summary
Manages supplier and customer quality for a manufacturing firm, resolving nonconformances, auditing suppliers, and handling customer complaints using quality tools like 8D and ISO 9001.
Job Summary:
The Supplier Quality Engineer owns Butcher Power Products’ external quality relationships in both directions. Upstream, the role manages supplier quality for purchased material — principally electrical components, along with raw sheet metal and bussing — engaging when supplied material does not work as designed and driving corrective action and improvement with the suppliers who provide it.
Downstream, the role manages BPP’s quality standing as a supplier to its own customers: audits, corrective actions, and scorecards through which customers judge BPP. Where the Manufacturing Quality Engineer looks inward at what BPP builds, the Supplier Quality Engineer looks outward — at the supply base that feeds production and at the customers BPP supplies. Like all quality roles, it reports to the Quality Director, sits within Operations, and operates independently of Manufacturing and Supply Chain so that quality decisions are made on the evidence.
Key Responsibilities:
Supplier Nonconformance & Corrective Action (what we buy):
- Engage when purchased material does not work as designed — lead containment, investigation, and disposition of supplier-caused failures and fitness-for-use issues.
- Own the supplier resolution loop: issue and manage Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs), facilitate root cause (8D, 5-Why), and verify corrective-action effectiveness.
- Monitor supplier quality performance and documentation (certifications, COCs, test reports), driving improvement where suppliers fall short.
Supplier Qualification & Sourcing (with Product Engineering & Supply Chain):
- Operate within the design-to-source chain: Product Engineering specifies and qualifies components in design, Supply Chain owns sourcing and supplier selection, and Supplier Quality steps in when supplied material does not work as designed.
- Support supplier qualification, evaluation, and approval, and provide quality input to the Approved Supplier List (ASL).
- Participate in supplier audits and assess supplier quality systems (ISO 9001) and process capability.
- Drive supplier development and improvement plans for underperforming suppliers.
- Partner with Supply Chain on sourcing and with Product Engineering on the specifications and qualifications that purchased material must meet.
Customer Issues, Audits & Performance:
- Manage customer complaints and SCARs filed against BPP — coordinate containment, root cause (8D), and corrective-action responses, partnering with Manufacturing Quality on internal root cause.
- Host and support customer quality audits of BPP and manage findings to closure.
- Track BPP’s customer quality scorecards and metrics (PPM, response time, returns) and support Management Reviews (MBRs). Must comply with the company’s safety policies.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Manufacturing).
- 3+ years of supplier quality, customer quality, or quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience managing supplier and/or customer corrective actions (8D, SCARs).
- Experience with PPAP and APQP submissions (supplier and/or customer side).
- Working knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
- Proficiency in quality tools: SPC, FMEA, control plans, 8D, and root cause analysis.
- Familiarity with electrical components — specifications, datasheets, and certifications/listings (e.g., UL) — and with raw material (sheet metal and bussing) acceptance.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship skills with external suppliers and customers.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Preferred:
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP).
- Experience as the customer-facing quality contact in a supplier organization.
- Experience with UL-listed product manufacturing.
- Experience in electrical equipment, switchgear, or panel manufacturing.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems, particularly Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365).
- Willingness to travel to supplier and customer sites as needed.
Core Competencies:
- Analytical thinking and problem solving
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Supplier and customer relationship management
- Auditing and assessment — conducting and hosting audits
- Technical writing and documentation
- Communication (written and verbal) • Negotiation and conflict resolution
- Continuous improvement mindset