Supplier Quality Engineer

Help grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.

Key Responsibilities

SUPPLIER METRICS AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• Design, implement and maintain a supplier-performance framework combining quality, delivery, responsiveness, cost and risk measures.

• Develop supplier scorecards and dashboards using clear definitions, validated data sources, targets, ownership and review cadence.

• Track and analyse measures including supplier defect and escape rates, incoming acceptance, first-pass yield, concession and deviation frequency, SCAR closure, repeat issues, on-time delivery, lead-time adherence and cost of poor quality.

• Segment suppliers by business criticality, performance and risk to prioritise audits, development activity and escalation.

SUPPLIER ASSURANCE AND IMPROVEMENT

• Lead supplier qualification, onboarding and approval using risk-based assessments, audits, capability reviews and evidence of effective quality controls.

• Establish supplier quality requirements within contracts, drawings, specifications, control plans, inspection standards and change-notification agreements.

• Lead supplier audits and process assessments, evaluating process capability, measurement systems, traceability, capacity, special processes, change control and business-continuity controls.

• Manage supplier nonconformities and corrective actions using structured methods such as 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa and fault-tree analysis; verify containment, root cause, corrective action and sustained effectiveness.

• Develop and deliver supplier improvement plans focused on defect prevention, process capability, right-first-time manufacture and stable delivery performance.

• Escalate persistent or high-risk performance issues and support commercial decisions including development, controlled exit, dual sourcing or replacement.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCE AND CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT

• Assess supplier technical capability and identify gaps in process control, inspection, testing, metrology, drawing interpretation, problem-solving and quality-system execution.

• Develop internal competence within Procurement, Engineering, Operations and Quality so supplier decisions are technically informed and requirements are consistently applied.

• Build reusable standards, checklists, lessons learned and training materials for supplier selection, industrialisation, auditing and issue resolution.

• Verify competence through practical application and measurable improvement, rather than training completion alone.

NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTION AND CHANGE CONTROL

• Define supplier quality deliverables and approval gates, ensuring specifications, critical characteristics, process controls, capacity and validation evidence are complete before launch.

• Coordinate first-article inspection, run-at-rate and production-readiness reviews.

• Evaluate supplier-requested changes to materials, processes, tooling, location or sub-tier sources and ensure risks are controlled before implementation.

Qualifications and Experience

• Essential: Degree, HNC/HND, technical apprenticeship or equivalent experience in engineering, manufacturing, quality or a relevant technical discipline.

• Essential: Demonstrable supplier-quality experience in a manufacturing, engineering or regulated environment.

• Essential: Strong working knowledge of supplier qualification, auditing, capability studies, 8D and root-cause methods.

• Essential: Ability to develop robust metrics, analyse complex data and convert findings into prioritised actions and measurable business benefits.

• Essential: Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, inspection results and manufacturing-process controls.

• Essential: Track record of influencing supplier leadership and delivering sustained improvements in quality and delivery.

• Desirable: Internal or lead auditor qualification, Lean Six Sigma certification, recognised quality-body membership or experience with sector-specific standards.

• Desirable: Experience working with international suppliers and conducting on-site assessments across different cultures and regions.

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical judgement and disciplined use of data.

• Manufacturing-process knowledge and technical curiosity.

• Structured problem-solving with a prevention-focused mindset.

• Supplier development, coaching and constructive challenge.

• Commercial awareness and understanding of total business impact.

• Clear communication, influencing and stakeholder management.

• Ability to prioritise risk, manage multiple actions and deliver results.

• Willingness to travel to supplier sites as required.

Key Performance Measures

• Supplier scorecards established, accurate and reviewed to schedule for all priority suppliers.

• Reduction in supplier repeat defects, concessions, incoming rejects and quality escapes.

• Improvement in supplier on-time delivery, schedule adherence and lead-time performance.

• Reduction in supplier-related production disruptions, premium freight, rework, scrap and total cost of poor quality.

• Supplier audits and development plans completed according to risk-based priorities.

• Improvement in supplier process capability and successful first-pass approval of new or changed parts.

• Demonstrable growth in supplier and internal technical competence against defined capability assessments.

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