Advanced Quality Engineer

Yanfeng•Chattanooga, TN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Advanced Quality Engineer is responsible for coordinating and communicating YF IOS, IATF, and Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs), leading plant-functional teams to ensure compliance. This role ensures products, services, or projects meet high-quality standards and regulatory requirements by managing quality across the entire lifecycle/launch. The position oversees quality assurance, drives continuous improvement, manages audits, and leads cross-functional teams to eliminate defects and boost customer satisfaction. The role also involves facilitating/participating in the Manufacturing development of Process Flows (PF) and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) documents for assigned Launch programs, and facilitating/assuring the development of Design and Process Control Plans based on customer requirements, Characteristic Matrix, and FMEAs. Additionally, the Advanced Quality Engineer facilitates and assures the development of appropriate Measurement System Analysis (MSA) plan for the Launch, identifies appropriate statistical tools and techniques for assessing process capability, and verifies all measuring devices are included on the Control Plan and PDFSS Scorecard. The role ensures preparation and on-time delivery of new product Launch related Customer Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) packages, and that initial capability studies are properly performed and documented for initial builds and product changes affecting special characteristics. The Advanced Quality Engineer also facilitates/participates in Engineering Design Reviews of specifications and drawings related to the system and develops the Characteristic Matrix. This position is responsible for coordinating and supporting the team to achieve YF IOS/IATF 16949 certifications and others as required, developing the process to implement, achieve and maintain YF IOS/IATF 16949, and maintaining local documents to uphold compliance to Global, Regional YF IOS requirements, IATF 16949, Customer Specific Requirements, and other regulatory requirements. The role provides awareness to all levels of the plant team when changes and/or updates are made to YF IOS, IATF16949 and/or Customer Specific Requirements. The Advanced Quality Engineer develops and maintains a schedule for all YF IOS internal, IATF16949 and other external party audits, with the objective of identifying gaps and supporting with corrective/preventive actions. This role supports Corporate 2nd Party Audits as Co-Auditor and Lead, and requires certification as an IOS Lead Auditor. Additional responsibilities include deploying YF IOS corporate strategic implementation plans, supporting training and working in different plant departments and teams, providing coaching on YF IOS, IATF 16949 and other requirements. The role supports the prevention of any non-conformity issues, coordinates the resolution process and response on-time using Problem Solving Tools to achieve sustainability of actions if non-conformity is detected during an audit. The Advanced Quality Engineer coordinates Management Reviews with the Plant Manager, supports with data, and follows up on open issues. This role serves as a role model in the adherence of YF IOS, IATF and Customer Requirements, performs job functions in accordance with set policies and procedures to ensure preservation of the Company Quality Policy, and supports the comprehensive continuous improvement philosophy for all Yanfeng disciplines. The role drives continuous improvement initiatives, performing root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions to prevent defects. It leads internal and external quality audits, managing audit findings and ensuring adherence to compliance requirements. The Advanced Quality Engineer serves as the key quality representative to customers and suppliers to ensure requirements are met or exceeded, monitors quality metrics, analyzes trends, and presents data-driven reports to senior management. The position provides leadership and training to staff on quality standards and tools. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor's Level Degree in Quality, Engineering or similar. Equivalent work experience may also be considered.
Minimum 1-3 years experience with direct customer contact and project management.
2+ Years of Experience within the automotive industry.
Must be able and willing to travel and work at customer sites, including industrial manufacturing plants which might require climbing, lifting, or working in confined spaces.
Must be organized and able to communicate well with others.
Knowledge of statistical concepts, design of experiments and problem-solving methodology is required.
Six Sigma certification or equivalent experience is required.
Working knowledge and demonstrated competence of IATF16949.
IATF 16949 training as Lead Auditor.
Certified Lead YF IOS auditor. If not, must be obtained within 1 year.
Excellent performance (detailed, accurate, efficient, organized, ability to plan, motivated, committed, flexible, assertive and developmental), communication (verbal, written, listening) and interpersonal (relationship building, teamwork, conflict resolution, customer orientation) skills.
Understand, apply and meet all function related YF IOS requirements.
Understand, apply and meet all function related EHS requirements.
Understand, apply and meet all function-related Product Safety requirements.
Understand, apply and meet all function-related Compliance requirements.
Understand, apply and meet all function-related IT / Information Security and confidentiality of YFAI information requirements.
Must comply with all company policies and procedures.
Employee must have the ability to work additional hours and / or overtime as needed or assigned to complete job duties on time.
Ability to multitask, interact politely and professionally with customers, suppliers and vendors, and work cooperatively with employees at all levels.
Ability to maintain predictable and regular attendance, arrive to designated location on time, or be at assigned location ready to work for assignment (plant, corporate office, or remote).

Nice To Haves

Black Belt certification and experience with Minitab software is highly desirable.
Knowledge and experience in Lean Manufacturing methods is highly desirable.
Excellent problem-solving skills, including experience preparing problem solving documents such as 8D’s.
Core Tools knowledge.
Solid knowledge of PFMEA, CP.
MSA knowledge.
VDA standards.
Customer Specific Requirements knowledge.
Certifications such as Certified Quality Eng (CQE) or Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt are often preferred.
Problem Solving Methodology (8D, PDCA, DMAIC, Kaizen, etc), including Root Cause Analysis Tools (5W3L, Ishikawa, KT Is/Is Not, etc).
Training Skills.
MS Office proficiency.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and communicate YF IOS, IATF, and Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs); lead plant-functional teams to ensure compliance.
Ensure products, services, or projects meet high-quality standards and regulatory requirements, by managing quality across the entire lifecycle/launch.
Oversee quality assurance, drive continuous improvement, manage audits, and lead cross-functional teams to eliminate defects and boost customer satisfaction.
Facilitate/participate in the Manufacturing development of Process Flows (PF) and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) documents for assigned Launch programs.
Facilitate and assure development of Design and Process Control Plans based on customer requirements, Characteristic Matrix and FMEAs.
Facilitate and assure development of appropriate Measurement System Analysis (MSA) plan for the Launch.
Identify appropriate statistical tools and techniques required for assessing process capability and verify all measuring devices are included on the Control Plan and PDFSS Scorecard.
Ensure preparation and on-time delivery of new product Launch related Customer Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) packages.
Ensure initial capability studies are properly performed and documented for initial builds and product changes affecting special characteristics, and that Customer and internal requirements are met (or a written Customer deviation is obtained).
Facilitate/participate in Engineering Design Reviews of specifications and drawings related to the system and develop the Characteristic Matrix.
Coordinate and support the team to achieve YF IOS/IATF 16949 certifications and others as required (e.g. VDA, BIQS, CQC, etc).
Develop the process to implement, achieve and maintain YF IOS/IATF 16949.
Maintain local documents to uphold compliance to Global, Regional YF IOS requirements, IATF 16949, Customer Specific Requirements, and other regulatory requirements.
Provide awareness to all levels of the plant team when changes and/or updates are made to YF IOS, IATF16949 and/or Customer Specific Requirements.
Develop and maintain a schedule for all YF IOS internal, IATF16949 and other external party audits, with the objective of identifying gaps and supporting with corrective/preventive actions.
Support Corporate 2nd Party Audits as Co-Auditor and Lead.
Deploy YF IOS corporate strategic implementation plans.
Support training and work in the different plant departments and teams, providing coaching on YF IOS, IATF 16949 and other requirements, as applicable.
Support the prevention of any non-conformity issues, and if any non-conformity is detected during an audit, coordinate the resolution process and response on-time using Problem Solving Tools to achieve sustainability of actions.
Coordinate Management Reviews with the Plant Manager, support with data, and follow-up of open issues, as required.
Be a role model in the adherence of YF IOS, IATF and Customer Requirements.
Perform job functions in accordance with set policies and procedures to ensure preservation of the Company Quality Policy.
Support the comprehensive continuous improvement philosophy for all Yanfeng disciplines.
Drives continuous improvement initiatives, performing root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions to prevent defects.
Leads internal and external quality audits, managing audit findings and ensuring adherence to compliance requirements.
Serves as the key quality representative to customers and suppliers to ensure requirements are met or exceeded.
Monitors quality metrics, analyzes trends, and presents data-driven reports to senior management.
Provides leadership and training to staff on quality standards and tools.
Other duties as assigned.