Supplier Development & Quality Engineer (Welding / Machining)

Supplier Development & Quality Engineer (Welding / Machining)

Purpose of the role

• Ensure supplier product and process quality for machining, welding in line with VAT specifications, standards and customer requirements.
• Drive supplier qualification, industrialization, ramp up, risk mitigation and recovery actions to support VAT's growth strategy and stable material availability.

KPI's:

• Supplier quality performance for assigned suppliers, including QPPM target achievement
• Timely supplier and process qualification for relocations and second sources
• Effective closure of complaints, audits, corrective actions and escalation recovery activities

Responsibilities:

• Own supplier qualification and development for machining and welding suppliers globally
• Assess supplier capability, process maturity, production capacity and readiness for serial production
• Drive supplier development, industrialization and ramp up activities with clear action ownership
• Support relocations, second source implementation and qualification projects
• Train suppliers in VAT requirements, standards, technologies and process expectations
• Lead supplier complaints, root cause analysis and corrective actions using 8D methodology
• Review and approve ISIR, PPAP and process qualification documentation
• Monitor supplier KPIs, process capability and risk trends; define improvement actions with suppliers and procurement
• Plan and perform system and process audits for machining, welding and manufacturing controls
• Audit CNC turning, milling, grinding, multi axis machining, TIG, orbital, laser and vacuum soldering processes
• Drive closure and effectiveness verification of audit findings
• Support supplier related Change Requests, customer escalations and shortage prevention with technical risk assessments
• Lead supplier recovery actions, including capability assessments, material risk assessments and top management escalation support
• Define and drive actions to secure material availability in close alignment with Engineering, Operations and Strategic Sourcing

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or similar
• 5 to 10+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering or supplier development
• Strong quality management, engineering or manufacturing background in machining and welding
• Experience in supplier audits, process qualification, ramp up and corrective action management
• Practical experience with supplier relocations, second sources or supplier recovery situations
• Good understanding of ISO 9001, ISO 3834 and semiconductor customer requirements
• Ability to work in international matrix organizations with regular supplier travel
• Strong communication, negotiation, project management and stakeholder management skills
• High level of resilience, ownership and flexibility
• CNC machining technologies including turning, milling, grinding and multi axis machining
• Welding technologies including TIG, orbital, laser and vacuum soldering
• Technical drawing interpretation, GD&T and specification review
• ISIR, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plans and process validation
• Root cause analysis, 8D, 5 Why and corrective action effectiveness verification
• Process validation and capability analysis including Cp, Cpk and KPI monitoring
• Supplier auditing, process assessments and risk based supplier development
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 3834 and manufacturing process control
• Project management, stakeholder management and escalation handling