Customer Quality Engineer

About the Role

The Customer Quality Engineer (CQE) represents the voice of the customer within the Shape organization, acting as the key interface between the customer and the company. The primary focus is to establish, manage, and achieve APQP and milestone events during all program phases in accordance with the SPMP process.

Responsibilities

• Develop APQP documentation to support the Product Realization Process in accordance with customer requirements (e.g., FMEA, MSA, SPC, PPAP).
• Facilitate and participate in the development and maintenance of Process Flows, PFMEA, and Control Plans with strong attention to critical and special product & process characteristics.
• Ensure appropriate inspection plans and containment plans are in place for the process value stream.
• Develop and control all APQP documents through PPAP approval for new program launches.
• Execute PPAP submission and approval for customer-initiated product changes as per SPMP guidelines.
• Understand and provide interpretation of customer-specific requirements.
• Participate in GD&T development through the DFM process.
• Oversee gaging requirements, design approval, and customer approval.
• Coordinate and participate in all customer quality events with Shape manufacturing plants (e.g., site visits, launch reviews, run @ rates).
• Establish and define customer safe launch exit criteria.
• Participate in internal customer Program reviews.
• Approve Customer AAR on designated A surface or cosmetic components (when applicable).
• Manage all customer claims and provide feedback as per customer-specific requirements during prototype and pre-production phases.
• Ensure customer portals are maintained as per CSR (customer-specific requirements).
• Hand off customer PPAP approval to Shape manufacturing plant.
• Work with Shape and Supplier Program Management teams to identify and resolve potential issues during launch and/or EC phases.
• Initiate dimensional layout requirements during pre-production planning and create standards where none exist.
• Ensure APQP process information is accurate, comprehensive, and received by the supplier.
• Coordinate with suppliers to develop "line readiness" activities such as Run at Rate, PV testing, QAV, and all standard APQP milestones.
• Communicate between Shape leadership and suppliers to address and resolve quality issues, providing technical input and guidance with a focus on preventive care.
• Ensure the supplier follows their own program management process and timing.
• Ensure the Plant SQE buys off on the effective implementation of Shape suppliers during Safe Launch.
• Facilitate corrective action processes with a focus on reducing quality incidents and improving overall quality and delivery systems.
• Review and approve PFMEA documents provided by the supplier.
• When needed, review corrective actions and conduct verification audits at supplier sites.
• Responsible for final PPAP signoff and communication at Phase Gate review 5 during the Shape program management process.
• Identify and train a backup(s) to manage key tasks when absent.
• Perform additional functions as directed by leadership.