Manager of Supplier Quality

Americase, LLC.; Waxahachie (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Americase, LLC. is seeking an experienced Manager of Supplier Quality to lead supplier performance across the U.S., Mexico, APAC, and EMEA. You will own the supplier quality strategy, drive audits, part approvals, and risk management to ensure defect-free materials reach our docks.

The role partners with Procurement, Quality Assurance, and Product/Engineering, demanding a hands-on leader with strong technical and manufacturing knowledge. Travel up to 50% is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field or 8+ years of equivalent on-the-job experience.
• 8+ years in supplier quality, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality; 3+ years leading people.
• Experience managing suppliers in multiple countries, especially Mexico and Asia, and overseeing outsource manufacturers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the supplier quality strategy, including qualification, onboarding, monitoring, and escalation.
• Lead supplier audits and qualification assessments covering process capability, quality systems, capacity, and financial stability.
• Oversee first article inspection and part approval for new and revised parts, ensuring documentation, testing, and approvals are complete before production release.
• Define quality requirements, inspection plans, and acceptance criteria for outsource manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad, and conduct on-site audits and reviews.
• Manage pre-shipment and source inspection for overseas suppliers, including third-party inspection services in China, and establish risk-based receiving inspection plans.
• Lead the corrective action process using 8D, root cause, and containment methods, and verify that actions prevent recurrence.
• Reduce supplier-related cost of poor quality by analyzing trends, implementing preventive measures, and recovering costs from suppliers.
• Assess supplier capacity and readiness for critical parts, including sub-tier constraints, and lead recovery planning with at-risk suppliers.
• Perform supplier risk analysis based on performance, process controls, capacity, and financial stability, and develop mitigation plans with Procurement.
• Drive supplier readiness for new product introductions, design changes, and supplier transitions, ensuring suppliers build to the current revision.
• Maintain joint quality and delivery scorecards with Procurement, set supplier KPI targets, and lead performance reviews and development plans.
• Maintain supplier quality procedures and supplier data within the quality management system, flow down customer requirements, and support customer audits.
• Train internal teams on supplier quality tools and present supplier performance, risks, and resource needs to leadership.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Supplier Quality team with clear goals, objectives, and metrics.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching, career development, and succession planning.
• Partner with Human Resources on hiring, onboarding, staffing, and disciplinary decisions.
• Serve as the primary contact for supplier quality and readiness escalations that could impact production, safety, or customer delivery.
• Foster accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement across the team and the supply base.

Skills

Supplier audits

First article inspection

Root cause analysis

APQP / FMEA

GD&T

Leadership

Sourcing globally

Quality systems

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Supply Chain – Supplier Quality | Full-Time | On-Site | Waxahachie, Texas

Americase is a Texas-based manufacturer and distributor of protective cargo cases and specialized shipping solutions, serving customers across the country and around the world. We are looking for an experienced Manager of Supplier Quality to lead the quality, readiness, and performance of our supply base across the United States, Mexico, APAC, and EMEA.

Why Join Us?

• Lead the Function:Own the supplier quality strategy and build a team that keeps defective material off our docks.
• Global Scope:Oversee suppliers and outsource manufacturers across North America, Asia, and Europe.
• Visible Impact:Present supplier performance and risk directly to leadership, and see your work reflected in on-time, defect-free production.
• Growth Environment:Shape a growing supply base in a company that values hands-on leadership and accountability.

Position Summary

The Manager of Supplier Quality ensures suppliers deliver the right parts, at the right quality, on time, preventing defective material from reaching our docks and surfacing supplier constraints before they stop production. Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, this role is responsible for supplier qualification and audits, part approval, supplier corrective action, cost of poor-quality reduction, supplier risk management, supplier capacity and readiness, and quality oversight of outsource manufacturers.

This role partners closely with Procurement, Quality Assurance, and the Product and Engineering teams. The ideal candidate is an experienced supplier quality leader with strong technical and manufacturing knowledge who holds suppliers and internal teams accountable while building lasting partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Supplier Quality Strategy:Develop and execute the supplier quality strategy, including selection criteria, qualification, onboarding, monitoring, and escalation.
• Audits and Qualification:Lead supplier audits and qualification assessments covering process capability, quality systems, capacity, and financial stability.
• Part Approval:Oversee first article inspection and part approval for new and revised parts, ensuring documentation, testing, and approvals are complete before production release.
• Outsource Manufacturer Oversight:Define quality requirements, inspection plans, and acceptance criteria for outsource manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad, and conduct on-site audits and reviews.
• Source and Receiving Inspection:Manage pre-shipment and source inspection for overseas suppliers, including third-party inspection services in China, and establish risk‑based receiving inspection plans.
• Supplier Corrective Action:Lead the corrective action process using 8D, root cause, and containment methods, and verify that actions prevent recurrence.
• Cost of Poor Quality:Reduce supplier‑related cost of poor quality by analyzing trends, implementing preventive measures, and recovering costs from suppliers.
• Capacity and Recovery Planning:Assess supplier capacity and readiness for critical parts, including sub‑tier constraints, and lead recovery planning with at‑risk suppliers.
• Supplier Risk:Perform supplier risk analysis based on performance, process controls, capacity, and financial stability, and develop mitigation plans with Procurement.
• NPI and Change Readiness:Drive supplier readiness for new product introductions, design changes, and supplier transitions, ensuring suppliers build to the current revision.
• Scorecards and KPIs:Maintain joint quality and delivery scorecards with Procurement, set supplier KPI targets, and lead performance reviews and development plans.
• QMS and Data Integrity:Maintain supplier quality procedures and supplier data within the quality management system, flow down customer requirements, and support customer audits.
• Subject Matter Expert:Train internal teams on supplier quality tools and present supplier performance, risks, and resource needs to leadership.
• Team Development:Lead, coach, and develop the Supplier Quality team with clear goals, objectives, and metrics.
• Performance Management:Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching, career development, and succession planning.
• Staffing:Partner with Human Resources on hiring, onboarding, staffing, and disciplinary decisions.
• Escalation Point:Serve as the primary contact for supplier quality and readiness escalations that could impact production, safety, or customer delivery.
• Culture:Foster accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement across the team and the supply base.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or 8+ years of equivalent on-the-job experience
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in supplier quality, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality, including 3+ years leading people
• Experience managing suppliers in multiple countries, especially Mexico and Asia, and overseeing outsource manufacturers
• Hands‑on experience with fabricated metal (sheet metal, aluminum, welding), machined components, plastics, foam, and purchased hardware
• Proven track record establishing supplier scorecards, performance targets, and escalation processes, and reducing cost of poor quality
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record for the past three years

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other regulated manufacturing
• ASQ CQE or CMQ/OE certification
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• ISO 9001 or AS9100 Lead Auditor certification

  Skills and Competencies

  • Supplier audits and qualification
  • First article inspection and part approval
  • Root cause analysis and corrective action (8D)
  • APQP, FMEA, MSA, and SPC
  • Blueprint reading and GD&T
  • ISO 9001 and AS9100 knowledge
  • Leadership, team development, and supplier relationship management
  • Communication, influence, and data‑driven decision making

  Who You Are

  • Holds suppliers and internal teams accountable while building strong, long‑term partnerships
  • A hands‑on leader equally comfortable on a supplier’s shop floor and in a leadership meeting
  • Presents risks and recommendations confidently to senior leaders
  • Data‑driven, detail‑oriented, and persistent under pressure

  Travel and Work Requirements

  • Travel up to 50% to Americase locations, outsource manufacturers, vendors, meetings, and conferences, including Mexico and occasional international travel
  • Valid passport or the ability to obtain one
  • Ability to walk plant, warehouse, and supplier floors, handle parts and materials, and wear required PPE
  • Willingness to work nights and weekends as needed

  Pre-Employment Requirements:

  Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check prior to the start date, conducted in accordance with applicable law, and a pre‑employment drug screen. Employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with company policy for the duration of employment.

  Americase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

  Reasonable Accommodations:

  Americase is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. Applicants who need an accommodation may contact Human Resources.

  E-Verify:

  Americase participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. For more information, visit www.e-verify.gov.

  This posting describes the general nature and level of work for this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications, and duties may change at any time with or without notice.