Aerospace Supplier Turnaround & Performance Lead

Quest Global; Circle Pines (MN); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Quest Global seeks an experienced Supplier Development & Performance Lead to manage turnaround and continuous improvement initiatives at aerospace supplier facilities, focusing on machine shops and precision machining. The role is hands-on, partnering with ownership and production teams to stabilize operations and establish sustainable processes that meet aerospace requirements.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in aerospace manufacturing, strong Lean/Six Sigma background, and proven ability

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, machining operations, supplier quality, supplier development, or operational leadership.
• Proven track record of improving supplier performance in aerospace or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of CNC machining, precision manufacturing, aerospace supply chain requirements.
• Experience leading operational turnarounds and recovery initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive supplier operational assessments to identify constraints, inefficiencies, and performance gaps.
• Develop and execute turnaround plans for underperforming suppliers.
• Establish performance baselines and improvement roadmaps with measurable milestones.
• Analyze production flow, machine utilization, capacity, staffing, and scheduling effectiveness.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective action implementation.
• Improve on-time delivery performance through production planning, scheduling, and capacity management.
• Identify bottlenecks impacting throughput and customer commitments.
• Develop recovery plans for late orders and backlog reduction.
• Implement SIOP disciplines where appropriate.
• Monitor key production metrics and drive accountability.
• Assess compliance with aerospace quality standards including AS9100 and customer requirements.
• Improve process control and manufacturing discipline.
• Support corrective and preventive actions related to quality escapes and customer complaints.
• Reduce scrap, rework, and nonconformance rates.
• Collaborate with quality teams during audits and customer reviews.
• Evaluate workforce capabilities and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop and deliver training programs for supervisors, planners, machinists, inspectors, and operational personnel.
• Coach site leadership on performance management and continuous improvement practices.
• Establish standardized work instructions and process documentation.
• Promote a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and value stream mapping exercises.
• Implement visual management systems and performance dashboards.
• Improve shop floor organization through 5S and workplace standardization.
• Drive cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives.
• Serve as the primary liaison between customer leadership and supplier management teams.
• Present findings, recovery plans, risk assessments, and progress updates to executive leadership.
• Build collaborative relationships while maintaining accountability for results.
• Escalate critical risks impacting quality, delivery, or customer commitments.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Continuous Improvement

Quality Systems

Project Management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering / related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Quest Global seeks an experienced Supplier Development & Performance Lead to manage turnaround and continuous improvement initiatives at aerospace supplier facilities, focusing on machine shops and precision machining. The role is hands-on, partnering with ownership and production teams to stabilize operations and establish sustainable processes that meet aerospace requirements.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in aerospace manufacturing, strong Lean/Six Sigma background, and proven ability