Job Description
This is an exciting opportunity as a Supplier Quality Engineer to be part of one of the North East’s highest profile manufacturing plants as we are expanding our operations at our battery manufacturing plant in Sunderland. We are looking to build our QA Projects team to support current production as well as the development and operation of a world class and innovative mass manufacturing Gigafactory. This is a unique opportunity to join one of the most exciting, large scale industrial developments in many years, where new and emerging technologies will be adopted in support of the rapidly growing electric vehicle marketplace.
Overview:
To support our New Plant / New Project activities, a position is now available for an experienced Engineer with specialist skillsets in Supplier Quality/Quality Assurance techniques (full awareness of IATF16949:2016 is required).
Responsibilities:
* Be involved in sourcing and assessing suppliers to supply the necessary materials.
* Visiting suppliers’ facilities and observing the manufacturing environment to review and assess their procedures.
* Performing regular quality control audits to ensure suppliers continue to work in compliance with company and industry standards and comply with all relevant regulations.
* Conduct thorough inspections and tests of incoming materials, in-process components, and finished products to identify defects, non-conformities, or deviations from quality standards.
* Maintaining detailed reports on supplier quality, including defect rates and implementing improvement plans where required.
* Providing technical advice and guidance to suppliers to reduce defect rates.
* Develop and implement quality control plans, procedures, and policies to ensure that products or services consistently meet or exceed customer expectations and regulatory requirements.
* Collaborate with cross-functional teams, such as manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain, to resolve quality issues and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
* Analyse quality data, perform statistical analysis, and generate reports to track trends, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to enhance product quality.
* Participate in the design and development of new products or processes, providing input on quality requirements, specifications, and validation plans.
* Conduct risk assessments and participate in failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to proactively identify potential quality risks and develop mitigation strategies.
* Lead or contribute to root cause analysis investigations to determine the underlying causes of quality issues and develop effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
Experience and Qualifications Required:
* Educated to degree/HND level in an appropriate technical subject.
* Previous experience in a quality engineering role, preferably in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
* Strong knowledge of quality principles, methodologies, and tools, such as statistical process control (SPC), Six Sigma, lean manufacturing, and root cause analysis.
* Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective actions.
* Ability to analyse, interpret and present data to make quantitative decisions.
* Experience of Supplier audit (IATF16949/VDA6.3) and Supplier introduction activities
* New Product Introduction experience and Core Tools (PPAP, APQP, MSA, FMEA, SPC)
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and effectively convey quality-related information to stakeholders.
* Excellent PC Skills including MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
* Flexibility to work and travel (including overseas) at short notice.