Supplier Quality Supervisor

Corning•Village of Fairport, NY

6d•$112,328 - $154,451

About The Position

The Supplier Quality Supervisor reports to the Plant Quality Manager and leads Fairport’s incoming inspection and supplier quality organization, including approximately 8–10 inspectors, technicians, and quality engineers. The supervisor sets priorities, allocates resources, develops team capability, and ensures nonconforming purchased materials and supplier-related issues are identified, contained, communicated, and resolved effectively. The role partners with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Procurement, and suppliers to improve incoming quality and reduce disruption to plant operations. This hands-on, detail-oriented leadership position balances daily operational execution with longer-term supplier quality improvement. It uses data, structured problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration to improve incoming quality performance and reduce production disruption.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Sciences, Management, or a related field.
At least 5 years of progressive quality experience, including incoming quality, supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or a related discipline, with demonstrated responsibility for leading people, resolving complex supplier issues, and driving measurable quality improvement.
At least 2 years of direct people-management experience, including performance management, coaching, workload prioritization, and development of technical professionals.
Strong working knowledge of incoming inspection and non-conforming material processes.
Strong working knowledge of supplier corrective actions and supplier performance management.
Strong working knowledge of structured problem-solving tools such as 5Why, 8D, and DMAIC.
Strong working knowledge of Quality Management Systems and applicable standards such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or IATF 16949.
Ability to partner effectively across Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Operations to drive issue resolution and accountability.
Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with shop floor teams, functional leaders, and external suppliers.
Comfort working in a hands-on plant environment with regular presence on the shop floor and in receiving and inspection areas.
Experience using data and metrics to drive decisions and performance improvement.

Nice To Haves

Lean / Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
ASQ certification (CQE, CMQ/OE, CQA, or related).
Experience with statistical and quality tools such as Minitab or JMP.
Experience in precision optics, coatings, or advanced manufacturing.
Experience with SAP, ETQ, Power BI, or similar business systems.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise, develop, and hold the IQA inspection and Supplier Quality team accountable; provide daily direction, establish priorities, manage performance, build capabilities, and align resources with plant priorities.
Build a team culture focused on responsiveness, ownership, discipline, and partnership with internal customers and external suppliers.
Establish clear roles, standard work, and escalation paths for incoming inspection, non-conformance management, and supplier corrective action follow-up.
Own plant incoming inspection processes and ensure purchased materials, components, and outsourced services are evaluated against requirements and released appropriately.
Ensure timely inspection, disposition, and containment of nonconforming incoming material to minimize production disruption while protecting product quality.
Prioritize incoming inspection based on production demand, supplier risk, and defect history, and ensure effective AQL-based inspections and templates for supplied parts.
Own supplier quality analysis for the Fairport site, including issue identification, documentation, supplier notification, corrective action follow-up, and escalation.
Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain on supplier scorecards, performance reviews, corrective action requests, audits, and recovery planning where applicable.
Drive supplier root-cause analysis and corrective-action discipline using structured problem-solving methods; support supplier qualification, evaluation, and ongoing monitoring.
Ensure purchased-material non-conformances are accurately documented and routed through appropriate systems and processes for timely disposition and closure.
Lead supplier-related corrective actions, ensuring containment, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and effectiveness verification are completed with urgency and rigor.
Partner with Engineering and Operations to assess risk, material usability, and disposition paths for discrepant incoming material.
Track recurring defects and systemic supplier issues and drive sustainable corrective actions.
Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Planning, and Procurement to resolve supplier and incoming quality issues.
Serve as the plant point of contact for supplier quality concerns affecting operations, ensuring communication is timely, fact-based, and action-oriented.
Support plant quality initiatives with input on defect trends, supplier performance risks, and opportunities to improve incoming material quality and inspection effectiveness.
Ensure incoming inspection and supplier quality processes align with plant Quality Management System requirements and applicable standards.
Maintain procedures, work instructions, inspection criteria, and documentation for compliant and effective incoming quality execution.
Support internal, customer, and third-party audits related to incoming inspection, supplier quality, and purchased-material controls, and ensure findings receive effective corrective actions.
Own incoming quality and supplier performance metrics, including defect rates, supplier PPM, inspection turnaround, SCAR responsiveness, cost of poor quality, and repeat issue trends.
Develop and maintain scorecards and performance visibility that drive action with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
Use data to identify high-risk suppliers, recurring failure modes, and process bottlenecks, and lead improvements to reduce incoming defects and improve supplier performance.
Use SAP, ETQ, Power BI, and other digital tools to improve issue tracking, reporting, workflow efficiency, and decision-making.

Benefits

Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives.
100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout the employee’s career.
Matching contributions to a 401(k) savings plan; total company contributions to retirement accounts can reach 7%–12% of pay, depending on age and years of service.
Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
Paid parental leave and family-building support.
Fitness benefits.
Company-paid life insurance and disability benefits.
Disease management programs.
Paid time off.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Recognition program celebrating successes and rewarding exceptional contributions.