Supplier Quality Engineer

About the role

Conducts various audits with key suppliers and evaluates risk. Takes a lead role in evaluating suppliers for conformance to Tokai Rika quality standards. Acts as a point of contact for suppliers to improve quality systems and meet Tokai Rika quality standards. Interacts with internal engineers, managers, and suppliers to investigate and analyze quality issues, verify countermeasures, and follow up on issue resolution both internally and with suppliers. Applies knowledge of problem-solving techniques and root cause analysis to resolve complex issues. Has a good working knowledge of a wide variety of problem-solving and quality tools, as well as manufacturing process control items, and mentors suppliers on the correct application of these tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and improve processes and systems at suppliers to ensure compliance with customer and internal quality standards and expectations; identify and assist in the resolution of systemic quality problems.
• Audit, review, and evaluate systems and processes at suppliers and internal manufacturing plants to ensure quality standards are maintained.
• Collaborate with focused suppliers and/or develop, implement, and improve their quality standards and manufacturing practices using Tokai Rika training materials.
• Submit various audit reports to senior management at TRAM and Tokai Rika Japan.
• Collaborate with suppliers and/or internal manufacturing sites to establish a concerted understanding of quality standards and expectations for materials, components, and goods produced.
• Translate Tokai Rika expectations to suppliers to avoid critical defects.
• Audit, evaluate, and implement improved sampling and testing procedures for both supplier and internal manufacturing sites to meet Tokai Rika quality standards.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal manufacturing sites to develop and implement modifications to work areas, processes, component and product specifications, material specifications, and testing and inspection procedures which provide compliance with quality standards.
• Collect, compile, analyze, and evaluate quality data and prepare reports and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Assist in coordination with the plant side during investigations of customer claims to identify and resolve quality problems; provide technical advice and assistance to suppliers.
• Support the warranty team on warranty claims investigation for root cause analysis and corrective actions implementation on gemba. Obtain clean point data from the plants to allow the warranty team to submit all necessary information on QMIS to close FQPRs and any other kind of customer request for investigation.
• Perform other work as assigned by Quality Management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a similar field.
• 7+ years of experience in a Supplier Quality Engineering role.
• Willingness to work at internal manufacturing sites and supplier plants.
• Willingness to travel daily and be flexible to travel to various locations.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% overnight.

About the company

TRAM, Inc. is a Japanese-owned automotive parts supplier serving Japanese transplants (Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, etc.) as well as domestic OEMs (Ford and GM). Located in Plymouth, MI, TRAM, Inc. is a subsidiary of Tokai-Rika Co. LTD, based in Nagoya, Japan. Founded in 1986, TRAM currently employs 2,500+ people across five locations. We manufacture automotive components such as switch-related products (window regulators, headlights, cruise control, turn signals, multifunction and HVAC switches), security and safety-related products (shift levers, steering wheels, steering locks, seat belts, key cylinders, mechanical and remote keys).