Supplier Quality Process Engineer

About the role

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions. Xylem is seeking a Supplier Quality Process Engineer to help execute their strategy of technological excellence and to increase focus on delighting customers. This role is responsible for assessment, continuous monitoring, and ultimate effectiveness of process performance from supplier selection through product integration. This role is focused on proactively ensuring Xylem ALWAYS receives material and components that are within specification and meet or exceed the demands of the intended application by ensuring suppliers implement and maintain adequate quality control processes and systems that align with Xylem process and performance requirements. Key success in this role will be the ability to perform failure/risk evaluations and root cause determination in partnership with a Cross-Functional Team (CFT). Supplier management will also require partnership with Sourcing and Engineering groups to assure implementation of the best possible solutions.

Core responsibilities

• Utilize information derived from data to identify systematic approaches for increasing repeatability and other continuous improvement activities to drive savings, collect, analyze, and report data to internal & external customers on process performance measurement
• Execute product audits including material identification/verification & traceability
• Define and manage in-process testing and inspection activities
• Manage 8D Corrective Action for all Quality inputs, including internal and customer-identified defects
• Complete PPAP/ISIR for purchased parts defined as CTQ/SPC by engineering
• Identify impact of engineering change notifications for Quality processes and documents and determine any steps necessary for change authorization with internal stakeholder alignment
• Perform Process Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (PFMEA) to identify risks to product quality
• Witness product validation and verification
• Coordinate material segregation and disposition
• Develop Process Control Plans to standardize and control manufacturing process
• Ensure customer satisfaction through conformance and defect resolution
• Conduct/assist in third party regulatory and safety agency audits
• Participate in the Xylem (XGP) Supplier Assessment to qualify capable suppliers that meet engineering, procurement and quality requirements
• Perform on-site or remote risk assessment audits at Xylem suppliers worldwide based on Xylem supplier policy & quality management system requirements for recommendations on approval, reject or development decisions and follow through on capability
• Create a development plan for suppliers to support performance targets and monitor performance in meeting Xylem goals
• Partner with Sourcing to implement supplier quality requirements during the Request for Quote process
• Represent Xylem QA at site meetings and submit daily reports to Xylem Morton Grove
• Perform other duties as assigned by Quality Supervisor or Quality Manager

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in applied science, or engineering field. Advanced certification as a CQE, CQM, LSS greenbelt or blackbelt a plus
• Three to Five (3-5) years prior experience in Quality Assurance with a consumer product manufacturer
• Background or substantial knowledge of six sigma problem solving methodologies
• Strong proficiency of Microsoft Office Applications, Business Objects, Minitab Team Guru, etc.
• Detailed working knowledge of ISO procedures and Quality Systems
• Demonstrated experience working with manufacturers, suppliers and distributors
• Knowledge in the areas of Engineering, Service, Manufacturing, and Quality
• Strong background in Hands-on Metrology skills
• Knowledge of basic quality topics and metrics like APQP, Statistical Process Control methods, 8D Methodology and Process Capability Index (CPK) is highly desirable
• Prior experience with UL, CSA, FM, NSF, MTL, ASME Code compliance a plus
• Possess strong decision-making, analytical and problem-solving, and negotiating skills
• Demonstrated exceptional communication skills; verbal, written, and presentation
• Ability to provide informative and professional assistance when working with the public/customers and co-workers and maintain positive interpersonal relationships which encourage openness
• Successful experience working in challenging business environment where skills/abilities were stretched
• Automotive or aerospace experience a plus
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical and electrical drawings
• Ability to manage time effectively
• Reliable transportation for local travel and off shift work
• Willing to travel up to 25% to suppliers worldwide for audit & development activities
• Experience in a Union manufacturing environment is a plus

Work environment

In this role, the working environment is both office and manufacturing shop floor where PPE and safety protocols are observed. The physical demands may include but are not limited to good vision and hearing; ability to stand and walk, lift, and carry up to 35 pounds occasionally and/or 10 pounds occasionally; stoop, crouch, kneel reach for and handle items, pick, pinch or otherwise work with the fingers and use the fingertips to perceive attributes of objects such as size, shape and surface finish. Work is performed in a typical manufacturing plant environment under the following conditions: noise, fumes, dust, high voltage electric current, and high-Powered Industrial Vehicle (PIV) traffic. Some duties are performed outdoors and may involve exposure to inclement weather conditions. In addition, this role may require extended hours to meet customer requirements.