Supplier Quality Engineer – Plant Resident, STA – Engine, Transmissions

Jobtailor; Chennai District; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lean Manufacturing Certification

Six Sigma Certification

Job summary

Ford Motor Company seeks an experienced Supplier Quality professional to serve as the technical interface between the Ford plant and supply base, resolving external supplier part-quality issues and guiding QR performance.

You will lead 8D/5-Why investigations, support APQP/PPAP activities, and coordinate with STA engineers and product teams to ensure robust quality across transmission and powertrain components.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years in Supplier Quality, STA, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Quality, or Powertrain within automotive.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the key technical and quality interface between Ford manufacturing plant and the supply base.
• Resolve external supplier part-quality issues reported at the Ford plant and in warranty.
• Communicate quality issues to external suppliers, Site STA Engineers, and product development teams.
• Lead critical supplier processes to drive Supplier Quality Reject (QR) performance.
• Support QR procedures, concern binning, threshold QR reviews, dispute resolution, incoming quality support, QR/PPM data accuracy, and part quality confirmation for suppliers with repetitive containment failures.
• Participate in Whiteboard and Variable Reduction Team (VRT) meetings as needed.
• Drive resolution of external supplier process 3MIS warranty concerns through supplier notification and containment.
• Lead containment of special-cause supplier process 3MIS warranty projects.
• Align with VRT on Supplier Process BSAQ Glidepath values.
• Provide early notification to the STA Site team regarding potential supplier-process-related stop shipments and support containment and root-cause ownership for Prevent Action Closure (PAC).
• Monitor daily production reports and notify STA management of issues requiring intervention.
• Coordinate between STA and plant management and lead supplier preparation for Global Quality reviews.
• Lead structured problem-solving using 8D, 5-Why analysis, fault-tree analysis, and data-driven root-cause validation.
• Participate in quality review meetings and support resolution of supplier-driven warranty and field-quality concerns.
• Support APQP, PPAP, launch, ramp-up, and current production activities.
• Travel to external suppliers as needed to follow APQP/PPAP.

Skills

APQP

PPAP

8D Problem Solving

5-Why Analysis

Root Cause Analysis

SPC

MSA

Gage R&R

GD&T

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Data Analysis

Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

Process Flow Diagrams

Measurement System Analysis (MSA)

Gage R&R

Job description

• Serve as the key technical and quality interface between the Ford manufacturing plant and the supply base.
• Resolve external supplier part-quality issues reported at the Ford plant and in warranty.
• Communicate quality issues to external suppliers, Site STA Engineers, and product development teams.
• Lead critical supplier processes to drive Supplier Quality Reject (QR) performance.
• Support QR procedures, concern binning, threshold QR reviews, dispute resolution, incoming quality support, QR/PPM data accuracy, and part quality confirmation for suppliers with repetitive containment failures.
• Participate in Whiteboard and Variable Reduction Team (VRT) meetings as needed.
• Drive resolution of external supplier process 3MIS warranty concerns through supplier notification and containment.
• Lead containment of special-cause supplier process 3MIS warranty projects.
• Align with VRT on Supplier Process BSAQ Glidepath values.
• Provide early notification to the STA Site team regarding potential supplier-process-related stop shipments and support containment and root-cause ownership for Prevent Action Closure (PAC).
• Monitor daily production reports and notify STA management of issues requiring intervention.
• Coordinate between STA and plant management and lead supplier preparation for Global Quality reviews.
• Lead structured problem-solving using 8D, 5-Why analysis, fault-tree analysis, and data-driven root-cause validation.
• Participate in quality review meetings and support resolution of supplier-driven warranty and field-quality concerns.
• Support APQP, PPAP, launch, ramp-up, and current production activities.
• Travel to external suppliers as needed to follow APQP/PPAP.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in Supplier Quality, Supplier Technical Assistance (STA), Manufacturing Engineering, Product Quality, or Powertrain Engineering within the automotive industry.
• Experience supporting suppliers serving major automotive OEMs.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Flow Diagrams, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), Gage R&R, GD&T, and IATF 16949 requirements.
• Experience in transmission, driveline, axle, or powertrain component manufacturing processes including casting, forging, heat treatment, gear machining, welding, and assembly.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills utilizing 8D, 5-Why, and Root Cause Analysis methodologies.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills, including data analysis, dashboards, issue tracking, and executive-level presentations.
• Ability to travel and work directly with supplier manufacturing locations.
• Preferred: Experience with engine or transmission systems and components.
• Preferred: Knowledge of CQI special-process requirements.
• Preferred: Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma certification or practical application experience.
• Preferred: Experience supporting transmission or engine supply chains for global automotive manufacturers.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Supplier Quality Management, utilizing methodologies such as 8D and 5-Why for problem-solving. Proficient in APQP, PPAP, and automotive manufacturing processes, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with industry standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Supplier Quality Management
• APQP
• PPAP
• Root Cause Analysis
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)

Hard Skills

• Mechanical Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Supplier Technical Assistance (STA)
• 8D Problem Solving
• 5-Why Analysis
• Root Cause Analysis
• Data Analysis
• GD&T
• Lean Manufacturing

Soft Skills

• Analytical Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Communication Skills
• Team Coordination
• Leadership

Certifications & Qualifications

• Lean Manufacturing Certification
• Six Sigma Certification

Industry Keywords

• Automotive Industry
• Supplier Quality Reject (QR)
• IATF 16949
• Transmission Systems
• Powertrain Engineering
• Casting
• Forging
• Heat Treatment
• Welding
• Assembly

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Process Flow Diagrams
• Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
• Gage R&R