Plant Production Quality Engineer

About the role

The Plant Quality Engineer plays a crucial role in ensuring production compliance and driving continuous improvement within the Clean Mobility Plant in Louisville, KY. They act as the Quality Manager's delegate, overseeing production adherence to IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, and Forvia quality standards. The role also involves supporting the deployment of the 8 Quality Basics, conducting daily line walks, validating final inspectors, and coordinating the disposition of nonconforming products.

Responsibilities

• Ensure production compliance with IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, and Forvia quality standards.
• Maintain validated control plans, conduct regular audits, and implement necessary updates with customer and engineering input.
• Monitor documentation and apply document control best practices, ensuring audit readiness.
• Lead the deployment of the 8 Quality Basics, using audits and action plans to ensure effectiveness.
• Conduct daily line walks to identify issues, validate solutions, and reinforce compliance.
• Validate final inspectors per Forvia methodology; ensure only qualified personnel operate production lines.
• Coordinate timely disposition of nonconforming products and maintain accurate records.
• Trigger containment using quality alerts; lead investigations using 8D, Ishikawa, 5Why, QRCI, and related tools.
• Drive corrective actions and quality improvement initiatives tied to scrap, rework, and process variation.
• Participate in the FES Deployment Plan and oversee Quality chapters in the assigned area.
• Promote continuous improvement by proposing and implementing solutions across processes, subcontracting, and inspection systems (TQW).
• Represent FORVIA in quality matters during customer interactions and ECC meetings.
• Lead the response to customer complaints and prepare PPAPs as required.
• Maintain communication with customer liaisons and support visits; access customer portals to provide required updates.
• Cookordination with Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) to identify and resolve supplier-related issues.
• Apply APQP tools and participate in FMEA reviews throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain SPC, sampling methods, inspection systems, and control plans.
• Maintain Gage R&R records and perform capability analyses.
• Support the definition and implementation of quality specs and testing standards across raw materials and finished goods.
• Facilitate training for employees on inspection methods, 8QB principles, and quality procedures.
• Conduct and support product, process, and special audits; follow up on corrective actions.
• Instruct personnel on proper audit techniques and use of testing devices.
• Handle Ariba PR submissions, invoice validation (VIM), and follow-up with AP as needed.
• Support multiple projects concurrently, ensuring quality integration in engineering changes and new programs.
• Monitor and validate service shipments and support TCS, TQW, and quality campaign activities.
• Escalate quality risks to the Quality Manager and stop production when authorized to protect customer interests.

Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn and disseminate company policies and procedures.
• Ability to work on multiple high priority projects.
• Availability to travel to visit and support customers in case of need.

Skills and competencies

• Firm grasp of basic economic skills, including cost tracking.
• Working knowledge of quality systems, core tools, and safety and environment practices.
• Strong teamwork, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a matrix organization.
• Fluent English language knowledge – written and spoken. Spanish is desired.
• Leadership Competencies: Cultivates Innovation, Manages Complexity, Drives Results, Demonstrates Self-Awareness, Collaborates with Others.

Profile and competencies to succeed

The ideal candidate will have/be:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn and disseminate company policies and procedures.
• Ability to work on multiple high priority projects.
• Availability to travel to visit and support customers in case of need.

Qualifications

• Minimum education level: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience: 1 to 5 years of experience in the automotive industry.
• Experience: 1 to 5 years of experience in quality.

Skills and competencies

• Firm grasp of basic economic skills, including cost tracking.
• Working knowledge of quality systems, core tools, and safety and environment practices.
• Strong teamwork, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a matrix organization.
• Fluent English language knowledge – written and spoken. Spanish is desired.
• Leadership Competencies: Cultivates Innovation, Manages Complexity, Drives Results, Demonstrates Self-Awareness, Collaborates with Others.

Physical Requirements

• Exposed to heat in the summer and cold in the winter.
• Job involves lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Steel-toed shoes, safety glasses, gloves, ear protection, and safety anti-cut sleeves required in production area due to physical hazards from moving equipment, machine parts, and product.