Supplier Quality Professional

Knorr Brake Company; Avon (OH); On-site; USD 83,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k plan

Vacation leave

Personal leave

Public holidays

Floating holiday

Parental leave

Job summary

Knorr Brake Company seeks a Supplier Quality Professional to oversee supplier qualification, audits, and continuous improvement across the supply base. You will interface with Purchasing, Engineering, and Operations to drive supplier development and ensure quality standards are met.

The role requires coordinating quality planning, root cause analyses, and CAPA activities while supporting complaint management and risk assessments. Some travel to supplier sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• Several years of Supplier Quality Management or Quality Engineering experience in an industrial setting.
• Experience with supplier audits and supplier development programs; cross-functional collaboration is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Plan, conduct, and document audits at supplier locations to verify compliance with requirements and standards.
• Define quality specs and qualification criteria with Purchasing, Engineering, and stakeholders.
• Evaluate and approve suppliers based on quality, capabilities, and process stability.
• Develop quality plans for semi-finished products, including inspection and verification procedures.
• Lead supplier workshops and training to improve performance and quality.
• Monitor supplier quality, delivery, and process capability using defined KPIs.

Skills

Supplier quality

Quality auditing

APQP/PPAP

Root cause analysis

CAPA

FMEA

SPC

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering

Job description

Please note: At this time, we are not able to offer immigration sponsorship for new hires. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

Position Summary

The Supplier Quality Professional (SQA) is responsible for ensuring that suppliers consistently meet the company's quality, product safety, and performance requirements. This role manages supplier qualification, auditing, quality planning, and continuous improvement activities across the supply base. Acting as a key interface between suppliers, Purchasing, Engineering, and Operations, the Supplier Quality Engineer drives supplier development initiatives, supports complaint management, and ensures compliance with quality standards throughout the supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, conduct, and document system, process, and quality audits at supplier locations to verify compliance with company requirements and applicable industry standards.
• Define semi-finished product quality specifications, technical requirements, and qualification criteria in close cooperation with Purchasing, Engineering, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Evaluate, qualify, and approve new and existing suppliers based on quality, manufacturing capabilities, process stability, and overall performance.
• Develop and implement quality planning activities for semi-finished products, including inspection plans, approval processes, and supplier validation procedures.
• Conduct supplier workshops, training sessions, and development programs to improve supplier performance and quality standards.
• Monitor supplier quality, product safety, delivery performance, and process capability through defined KPIs and quality metrics.
• Drive supplier development and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality performance and reduce quality risks.
• Initiate and manage escalation processes for suppliers when quality targets, compliance requirements, or performance expectations are not achieved.
• Provide technical guidance and consultation to suppliers regarding product quality requirements, manufacturing processes, and semi-product design considerations.
• Support supplier-related complaint management activities, including root cause analysis, corrective action implementation, and effectiveness verification.
• Collaborate closely with Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to resolve supplier quality issues and prevent recurrence.
• Lead and facilitate problem-solving activities using quality tools such as 8D, Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, SPC, and CAPA methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with relevant quality standards, customer requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Prepare and present regular reports on supplier audits, quality projects, workshop outcomes, supplier performance, and local quality indicators.
• Support strategic sourcing initiatives by providing supplier quality assessments and risk evaluations.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.

Experience

• Several years of experience in Supplier Quality Management, Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing, or a comparable role within an industrial environment.
• Experience conducting supplier audits and managing supplier development programs.
• Experience working with international suppliers and cross-functional teams is considered an advantage.
• Knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering would be beneficial.

Knowledge And Skills

• Strong knowledge of supplier quality management principles, quality systems, and auditing methodologies.
• Experience with quality standards such as ISO 9001 and industry-specific standards where applicable.
• Proven experience in supplier qualification, quality planning, APQP, PPAP, and supplier performance management.
• Familiarity with quality tools and methodologies including 8D, FMEA, SPC, MSA, CAPA, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities.

Personal Attributes

• Structured, detail-oriented, and quality-focused mindset.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build effective supplier relationships.
• Proactive and results-oriented approach to work.
• High level of accountability and decision-making capability.
• Team player with strong collaboration and coaching skills.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel regularly to supplier locations.
• Fluent English language skills; additional languages are considered an advantage.
• Certified Quality Auditor or similar certifications are considered a plus.

Training Austria

Please note: At this time, we are not able to offer immigration sponsorship for new hires. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

It needs to be closely coordinated with Procurement; the persons should be trained at the same time. I would suggest starting with two periods of two weeks each.

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in Springfield is $83,300 to $125,600 per year. The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and years of experience within the job, the type of years and experience within the industry and education. Zelisko is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect positions that work in other states or locations. Provided they meet all eligibility requirements under the applicable plan documents, employees (and their eligible dependents) will be eligible to enroll in group healthcare plans that offer medical, dental, vision, and basic life and disability insurance. Employees also will be able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan. Employees will also receive 120 hours of vacation leave and 40 hours of Personal Paid Absence every year. Employees will also enjoy 12 paid holidays, and 1 floating holiday throughout the calendar year, subject to relevant terms outlined in the employee handbook. 6 weeks of paid parental leave will also be available for use. Requirements for these benefits will be controlled by applicable plan documents and policies. Employees working on federal contracts covered by the Federal Paid Sick Leave requirements will be notified and will receive benefits consistent and compliant with the FPSL requirements. Hired applicant will be able to purchase company stock, subject to the relevant plan documents and annual bonuses based on achievement of certain metrics of up to 4% of annual salary. This is intended to provide a general description of benefits and other compensation and is not a substitute for applicable plan documents or company policies. Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis