Supplier Quality Engineer - Lean & Continuous Improvement

Vytran LLC; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Life Cover

Health Care

Income Protection

Job summary

Thorlabs is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer for its Ely, UK site. You will work with Thorlabs Quality, Purchasing and Engineering to lead supplier audits, perform on-site visits, and drive continuous improvement across the supply base.

Successful candidates will have a manufacturing/quality engineering degree with at least 3 years’ supplier quality experience and a solid understanding of Lean principles, PPAP, FMEA and APQP. The role is office-based in Witchford, Ely.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Quality Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in an equivalent Supplier Quality Engineering role
• Basic to intermediate understanding of Lean principles and their practical implementation within the supply chain
• The ability to coach suppliers to adopt lean principles (including but not limited to SMED, PFEP, EPEI, and pull)
• Basic to intermediate experience in Supplier quality development and working with suppliers to meet agreed quality standards
• Appreciation of PPAP & FMEA; experience in APQP would be beneficial
• Ability to understand and interpret high precision engineering drawings (down to micron level tolerances would be beneficial)
• Experience in a low volume, high mix manufacturing environment
• Substantial ability to create and enhance working relationships with suppliers to partner in their pursuit of zero defects
• Experience in working with a multidisciplinary project team to drive improvement projects
• Ability to multitask, time manage, work independently and identify and resolve problems quickly

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier audits and collating/presenting results highlighting risks to the business
• Support supplier visits and raise/validate Supplier Corrective Action Reports
• Engage with CNC machined parts and metal finishing processes where possible
• Drive supply chain improvements by eliminating waste and emphasising defect prevention
• Develop and utilise continuous improvement tools (Lean, Six-Sigma, PFMEA, PFEP, EPEI)
• Collaborate with Engineering teams to monitor supplier quality data and identify improvements
• Produce concise supplier action plans with KPIs to track impact on cost, quality and on-time delivery
• Develop a supplier audit programme and verify corrective actions are maintained

Skills

Lean principles

supplier engagement

PFMEA

PPAP

APQP

GD&T / drawing interpretation

Project collaboration

multitasking

Education

Manufacturing/Quality Engineering degree

Job description

Thorlabs is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer for its Ely, UK site. You will work with Thorlabs Quality, Purchasing and Engineering to lead supplier audits, perform on-site visits, and drive continuous improvement across the supply base.

Successful candidates will have a manufacturing/quality engineering degree with at least 3 years’ supplier quality experience and a solid understanding of Lean principles, PPAP, FMEA and APQP. The role is office-based in Witchford, Ely.