Supplier Quality Engineer - Casting Technical Advisor

DESCRIPTION

We are looking for a talented Supplier Quality Engineer - Castings Technical Advisor to join our Supplier Development team for our Troy, MI location.

Provides technical leadership for Cummins Drive Train and Braking Systems (CDBS) foundry supply base. Manage multiple suppliers across several product lines for North America and provide liaison support for the Global supply base.

Overview:

Supplier Development's core responsibilities are to participate in the supplier selection process, develop and support high impact suppliers during program launches, and to train and mentor assigned suppliers in quality process improvements while demonstrating Cross-Functional Leadership within the organization and amongst the supply base. The primary purpose of this role is to optimize CDBS supply base to meet the expectations of the organization including technical specifications, cost, and quality and delivery requirements.

• Effective Communication: You will develop and deliver multi-mode communications that clearly convey an understanding of the unique needs of different audiences, ensuring messages are received and understood.
• Customer Focus: By building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions, you will enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Vision and Purpose: You will paint a compelling picture of the vision and strategy, motivating others to take action and align with the organization's goals.
• Auditing Expertise: Applying your auditing skills and Quality Management Systems knowledge, you will effectively appraise manufacturing processes for quality and safety risks, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement.
• Technical Interpretation: Utilizing your knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing principles and Engineering Standards, you will accurately interpret technical requirements and improve product design for manufacturability and measurability.
• Manufacturing Process Design: You will apply your expertise in manufacturing technology to design Zero Defect manufacturing processes that consistently meet technical and customer requirements.
• Problem Solving: By using systematic analysis processes and industry-standard methodologies, you will solve problems, mentor others, and implement robust, data-based solutions to prevent reoccurrence and protect the customer.
• Supplier Quality Improvement: You will develop and execute effective quality improvement strategies for suppliers, enhancing their performance and ensuring they meet customer expectations through rigorous planning and execution.

• Build Strong Relationships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with all critical partners, including external suppliers, external customers, and internal stakeholders such as Purchasing, Manufacturing, and Engineering. This will improve quality and business outcomes.
• Coach and Mentor: Guide Cummins professionals on strengthening the soft skills required to develop effective relationships, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Leverage Manufacturing Knowledge: Utilize your significant knowledge of manufacturing technology, product designs, and industry best practices to partner with cross-functional teams in developing supply base strategies and leading the supplier selection process for high complexity components.
• Collaborate with Engineering: Work closely with engineering teams to develop optimized and manufacturable product designs, focusing on high complexity components to ensure efficiency and quality.
• Co-Design Manufacturing Processes: Collaborate with external suppliers to co-design a Right First-Time manufacturing process that conforms to engineering prints, standards, and customer-specific requirements.
• Master APQP Processes: Demonstrate mastery of industry common APQP processes, AIAG tools, and Cummins specialty tools to develop zero defect components within the external supply base. Coach and mentor Supplier and Cummins professionals to improve the effectiveness of APQP execution.
• Lead Continuous Improvement: Embrace continuous improvement by leading high-impact product and process-focused projects on complex products and manufacturing processes. Utilize industry-proven methodologies such as lean and six-sigma.
• Drive High-Impact Initiatives: Lead high-impact initiatives within the external supply base that focus on business and functional priorities, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Develop Team Capability: Build the capability and competency of the global Supplier Quality Engineer team through the development and execution of high-impact learning and growth tools, such as advanced Zero-Defect Mindset requirements, advanced Supplier Quality Standard Work, or Technology-Quality councils.

• Evaluation of current/new castings and machining suppliers - conduct technical and quality system audits (Risk Assessment, Quality System Evaluation (QSE), PSO, etc.) as required. Develop improvement plans with supplier to address audit findings. Provide regional based support as required
• Drive advanced development opportunities for challenging projects and/or long lead time activities with the supplier base where possible
• Supplier Change/Resource Management to assure that they receive the right information at the right time. Also coordinate and bring in experts from other cross-functional areas when needed (i.e. Product Engineering, Industrialization, Supply Chain, etc.)
• Identify and implement improvement plans at the supplier location considering top chronic candidates for supplier performance improvement (includes delivery and capacity issues). Also identify and implement short/mid/long term improvement projects to create a step function improvement in Supplier Performance Scorecards and Customer Performance Surveys
• Supplier / Program launch activities - support Technical Reviews/Pre-Award Meetings, PPAP submissions, drive and lead APQP plans, and development of launch containment plans as required and support continuous improvement initiatives with key suppliers
• Supplier Project / Program Management: Follow SD - PMO Management review and escalation process to effectively manage all activities through GP3 program reviews, ensure programs are launched on-time with no quality issues
• Lead Cross-Functional Teams in resolving critical technical issues related to program launches, new supplier launches and Chronic Supplier Improvement programs
• Ability to travel 50% of the time to suppliers for improved communications and meetings to optimize and/or achieve objectives
• Multi-business unit and/or manufacturing site support via expertise, thorough knowledge of Meritor product lines and manufacturing processes
• Execute commodity strategies included but not limited to Best Cost Country (LCC) and Diversity supply opportunities

• Proven track record of problem resolution, product innovation, and/or cost optimization
• Manufacturing plant experience is a must
• ASQ CQE and ASQ CQA is preferred
• Project management experience and international exposure is preferred
• Six Sigma Green Belt minimum in (DFSS and/or DMAIC) is preferred
• Casting and Machining Operations, Development, and Quality Experience
• IATF 16949 Lead Auditor is preferred
• IATF 16949 and applicable AIAG CQI Auditing Experience and System Creation
• AIAG PPAP, MSA, SPC, FMEA, Control Plan, and APQP
• Excel, Power Point, Word, MS Project experience is a must

• Creates Change/Relentlessly Innovates and Improves
• Develops Organizational Capability
• Emphasizes Customer Focus
• Empowers People
• Manages Coordination and Integration
• Manages Performance
• Promotes Core Values

• Drives for Business Results: Establishes aggressive goals; achieves strong results and outstanding accomplishments; balances long-term objectives with near-term objectives; balances the needs of employees and customers
• Coaches Others: Accurately identifies strengths and development needs in others; gives clear, motivating, and constructive feedback; coaches others in the development of their skills; provides challenging assignments; adapts approach to motivate everyone.
• Possesses Technical Excellence: Is a credible technical leader; keeps up to date on professional/technical developments; develops an appropriate depth of expertise in technical areas; supports the development of technical excellence in others; is willing to try novel approaches to solve technical problems.