Quality Engineer 1

DENSO•Battle Creek, MI

10d•$56,000 - $70,000

About The Position

The Quality Engineer I will work within the DMMI-0231 Quality Engineering team at DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. in Battle Creek, Michigan. The role focuses on supplier quality, internal process improvement, and applying basic quality methods and AIAG Core Tools to maintain quality standards for automotive components. The position manages customer in-line non-conformance claims and quality issues for assigned plants and manufacturers. It investigates concerns, coordinates containment and recovery of defective products, reviews plant countermeasures, analyzes customer quality ratings, identifies process root causes, and develops actions to prevent recurrence. It also manages customer approval processes and engineering changes, coordinating information, samples, approvals, and status updates between customers and DENSO plants. The Quality Engineer ensures customer new-model requirements are completed on schedule, participates in kickoff meetings, follows DENSO North America quality engineering standards for launches, coordinates audits and plant visits, and monitors design changes. The role also conducts plant “Go and See” activities for major quality issues, evaluates root-cause analyses and corrective actions, and recommends further improvements. Additional responsibilities described in the posting include supplier audits and assessments, quality documentation such as PPAP and control plans, quality metrics and reporting, audit participation, corrective and preventive action support, continuous improvement, and technical support for new product introductions. The posting contains conflicting experience requirements: an initial qualification section states 0–3 years of relevant experience, while a later qualifications section states a minimum of 4 years of engineering experience in a quality environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, or a related field.
Experience requirement is inconsistent in the posting: one section specifies 0–3 years of relevant experience; another specifies a minimum of 4 years of engineering experience in a quality environment.
Mechanical aptitude and ability to investigate vague customer issues.
Customer service skills and ability to support a service-oriented environment.
Negotiation skills, including the ability to advocate for a position while considering benefits for all parties.
Ability to foster and maintain relationships and work as part of a cross-functional team.
Flexibility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
High commitment to quality.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Proficiency with basic quality tools such as SPC, FMEA, and Pareto.
Knowledge of AIAG Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, and SPC.
Experience conducting supplier audits and managing supplier quality.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Familiarity with ISO/TS 16949 automotive quality standards.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

Manage customer in-line non-conformance claims for assigned plants and manufacturers.
Monitor customer quality issues through web portals, correspondence, and customer site visits.
Investigate quality concerns, recover defective products, arrange shipment to DENSO plants, and establish on-site containment for critical issues.
Review plant countermeasures, track customer rating systems, reconcile inaccurate records, and request corrections from customers.
Use on-site reviews and data analysis to isolate process root causes, and develop countermeasures to prevent recurrence.
Manage customer approval processes and engineering change activity, including reviewing design-change information and coordinating follow-up with DENSO plants.
Relay customer requests for additional information, data, or sample parts and notify plants when approval to ship new parts is granted.
Hold customer status meetings to communicate progress and concerns.
Ensure new-model requirements are completed according to customer schedules; attend kickoff meetings and manage launch activities using DENSO North America quality engineering standards.
Negotiate changes to customer or plant requirements, arrange plant audits, and monitor design changes for implementation and effectiveness.
Conduct plant “Go and See” activities for major quality issues; analyze root causes, evaluate process changes and countermeasures, and recommend improvements.
Perform supplier audits and assessments using AIAG Core Tools.
Analyze and resolve non-conformances and customer complaints.
Develop and maintain quality documentation, including PPAP and control plans.
Support continuous improvement initiatives using basic quality tools such as 5-Why and Fishbone.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive corrective and preventive actions.
Monitor key quality metrics and generate performance reports.
Assist with root-cause investigations and implement effective solutions.
Participate in internal and external quality system audits.
Provide technical support for new product introductions.
Maintain compliance with ISO/TS 16949 and other relevant standards.