Supplier Development Engineer

American Battery Solutions • Lake Orion, MI

2d

About The Position

The Supplier Development Engineer is a hands-on position focused on the ABS supplier selection, evaluation, and management of components development. Our SDE is responsible for ensuring the Supplier Development Management System status is developed to supply ABS with high-quality components. Supplier Development ensures that supplying companies’ systems, processes, and build capabilities meet the design intent of the customer and are compliant with the end customer’s needs. This includes initial supply chain company verification and working in a team environment as a key resource for the component teams to develop new supply sources to improve cost competitiveness and be the conduit between the company and the supplier. In the event there are non-conformances, this role will quickly and effectively take necessary actions to partner with the supplier to identify root-cause analysis and resolve the problem.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing a certified quality management system (e.g., TS 16949, ISO).
• Minimum of four (4) years of a proven track record of driving continuous quality improvement in a manufacturing environment.
• Exceptional mechanical or electrical aptitude (i.e., intuitive understanding of mechanical processes).
• Customer quality assurance experience.
• Previous audit experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the automotive industry; Battery, Electronics, or Powertrain manufacturing preferred.
• Previous work experience in an organization that supplied large OEMs.

Responsibilities

• Interface with component teams to prioritize supplier development needs by component to improve cost competitiveness or supply constraints.
• Drive supplier selection through robust qualification processes.
• Assess new and existing supplier capabilities to meet product, cost, quality, capacity, andfulfillment ensuring suppliers can meet requirements for performance, quality, cost, and delivery of components and requirements for TS 16949, ISO 9001, and other applicable customer and internal system and reputation requirements.
• Drive improvements utilizing Lean methodologies, supplier scorecards, and own supplier audit, ensuring supplier compliance, whilst driving systematic problem-solving and process improvement plans to deliver value 
• Track the supplier’s performance indicators, support, and publish their scorecards. Dependent upon their rankings, facilitate and develop the supply base’s ability to consistently meet or exceed defined expectations.
• Act as a consultant to communicate and coach the Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, and procurement organizations to drive cost-effective improvements to Quality and Manufacturing processes, minimizing waste, introducing new products and improving product design. 
• Provide technical expertise and leadership in sourcing and development of suppliers with respect to technology, performance, quality, cost, logistics and delivery.
• Provide leadership during investigations of major problems and or special projects focusing on developing working relationships with suppliers and the supply chain regarding product development and procurement of parts.
• Responsible for leading the solution for supplier component concerns, driving Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), customer interaction, supplier interaction, Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE) support, supplier component development and approval and supplier cost improvements.
• Carry out new supplier validation audits, with supplier support and supplier Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
• Assist with new product launches by working with suppliers to ensure that key milestones are achieved.
• Work with the Engineering team (Design and Manufacturing Engineers) to define process parameters and criteria to ensure supplier process capability is effective to meet product and process requirements.
• Keep up with current and developing manufacturing and engineering trends that concern product quality.
• Contribute to continuous improvement activities.
• Write reports and present progress at project meetings and to clients. 
• Conduct benchmarking studies to determine best practices/designs and future trends.
• Perform root cause analysis and resolve problems, promoting initiatives to improve quality.
• Review engineering and manufacturing specifications to identify materials needed for product assembly for all manufactured goods.
• Conduct supplier quality control audits to ensure vendors and their supplies remain in compliance with company and federal manufacturing and production standards.
• Communicate with vendors regularly to address any concerns and foster an environment that facilitates continual improvement in working relationships.
• Understand and interpret all manufacturing audits, including ISO 9001 and other industry standards.
• Maintain a supplier database and include performance evaluations and quality control audits in the database for in-house access by company and manufacturing management personnel.
• Driving supplier quality performance, including new product development and product quality improvement.
• Adhere to federal and state regulations.
• Adhere to all company policies, processes, and procedures.
• Performs other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.
• Predictable and reliable attendance.

Benefits

• Paid time off includes 3 weeks vacation, up to 72 hours sick, 15 holidays, and parental leave.
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) offerings.
• Company provided 401K savings plan with immediately vested matching contributions to help you save for retirement.
• Voluntary benefits offerings.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee Referral Program.
• Employee development and career growth opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees