The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for developing, managing, and continuously improving supplier quality performance to ensure purchased components, materials, and subcontracted processes consistently meet defined quality, reliability, delivery, and regulatory requirements
Serving as the primary Quality interface between the company, suppliers, subcontractors, Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Operations, this role drives supplier qualification, New Product Introduction (NPI), process validation, corrective actions, supplier performance improvement, and continuous improvement across the supply base
Supplier Quality Management: Own quality performance for assigned suppliers and commodities. Establish and maintain supplier quality requirements, specifications, and quality agreements. Monitor performance using defined KPIs, scorecards, and metrics while identifying risks and mitigation plans. Partner with Procurement and Engineering on supplier selection, development, and exit decisions
Supplier Qualification & Development: Participate in supplier qualification and selection. Conduct quality assessments, process audits, capability evaluations, and evaluate manufacturing processes, quality systems, and controls. Develop targeted improvement plans to bridge capability, capacity, and maturity gaps
New Product Introduction (NPI): Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, and suppliers during NPI. Review drawings, specifications, GD&T, CTQs, PFMEAs, Control Plans, Process Flow Diagrams, MSA, SPC, and inspection plans. Drive DFM/DFA/DFR reviews, lead process validation, approve FAI/FAIR and PPAP submissions, and ensure production ramp readiness
Supplier Process & Product Quality: Perform process audits and manufacturing evaluations. Establish inspection and testing requirements based on product risk. Drive implementation of SPC, mistake-proofing, standardized work, and robust process controls, shifting suppliers from inspection-based quality toward prevention-focused quality
Nonconformance & Corrective Action: Lead supplier-related nonconformance investigations. Drive containment, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and preventive action (8D, CAPA, RCCA). Verify effectiveness of corrective actions to prevent recurrence and track issues through closure
Supplier Audits: Plan and execute risk-based supplier quality audits (process, product, system, special-process). Develop audit findings, oversee corrective-action plans, verify closure, and support internal, customer, and regulatory audits involving suppliers
Supplier Performance & Metrics: Develop and maintain quality metrics including incoming defect rates/PPM, NCR rates, FPY, CAPA closure, process capability ($C_p$/$C_{pk}$), COPQ, escape rates, and audit performance. Leverage data to identify systemic trends and continuous improvement opportunities
Incoming Quality & Manufacturing Support: Partner with Receiving and Incoming Inspection to establish risk-based inspection requirements, acceptance criteria, and disposition nonconforming materials. Work with Manufacturing Quality to resolve supplier-originating defects and reduce incoming inspection burdens through demonstrated supplier process capability
Supplier Change Management: Review and approve supplier process, material, equipment, tooling, location, and sub-tier supplier changes. Ensure appropriate qualification, validation, risk assessment, change control documentation, and traceability before implementation
Continuous Improvement: Lead supplier quality improvement projects using Lean Six Sigma and structured problem-solving methodologies. Reduce defects, scrap, rework, and supplier-related COPQ while promoting prevention-focused quality