Supplier Quality Engineer (m/w/d)

Job Description

Job Summary

The Supplier Quality Engineer ensures that all purchased components and assemblies delivered to Terabase meet required specifications, compliance standards, and quality expectations. They establish and oversee a reliable incoming inspection process, ensure timely and accurate identification of supplier non-conformities, and drive effective containment and corrective actions. Their work protects the production line by safeguarding part quality, minimizing disruptions, and ensuring continuity of supply.

Accountabilities & Authorities

Incoming Inspection Management

• Support the implementation of supplier quality control plans and ensure they are correctly applied during incoming inspections and receiving processes.
• Maintain and update inspection work instructions, visual standards, and checklists to support accurate verification of incoming parts.
• Ensure inspection records, traceability documents, and supplier quality data are properly logged, stored, and attached in ERP / QMS systems.
• Monitor adherence to inspection procedures, tool calibration requirements, documentation accuracy, and nonconformity classification standards.
• Coordinate external lab testing or third-party inspections when additional validation is required for supplier components.
• Recommend updates to control plans and inspection criteria whenever defects or recurring non-conformities are detected.
• Provide feedback to suppliers regarding non-conformities, drive containment actions, and support supplier corrective actions (SCAR).
• Track supplier performance trends (PPM, on-time delivery, SCAR status) and support supplier reviews and maturity assessments.

Supplier Nonconformity Management

• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely and effective containment actions to prevent disruption to the manufacturing line.
• Facilitate supplier root-cause analysis (5-Why, Ishikawa, 8D) and support verification of corrective actions to ensure issues are resolved and prevented from recurring.
• Support the documentation and tracking of supplier-related nonconformities, including NCRs, SCARs, and validation evidence.
• Assist in tracking supplier cost-of-non-quality (CONQ) impacts and provide supporting documentation for internal review.
• Coordinate supplier remedial actions, including retrofits, part replacements, rework confirmation, and validation reports.
• Monitor supplier waiver requests to ensure risk is assessed, approvals follow procedure, and traceability is maintained.
• Support internal stakeholders (Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality) through visibility of supplier defect trends, response time, and containment effectiveness

Supplier Qualification & Assessment/Audit

• Execute supplier qualification assessments using pre-defined audit checklists.
• Maintain supplier quality status records, approved vendor lists, and risk assessments.
• Conduct Pre-Industrial Supplier Maturity assessments using approved tools and checklists
• Validate supplier compliance (ISO 9001, NDA, cybersecurity protocols)
• Maintain supplier quality readiness data: audit scores, compliance levels
• Conduct supplier audits (manufacturing, quality system, documentation).
• Maintain audit records and track corrective actions to closure.
• Monitor supplier compliance with required quality and data security standards.
• Conduct surveillance audits using established templates
• Track CAPA follow-up, escalate delayed closures
• Document supplier process improvements and quality gates

PPAP / APQP / Engineering Change Support

• Implement PPAP elements (FMEA, Control Plans, PFMEA, ISIR, PSW inspection reports) using defined templates.
• Track and record nonconformances (NCR), supplier deviations, and approval status.
• Support Engineering with drawing reviews and specification compliance communication.
• Conduct DFM (Design for Manufacturing) readiness checks (execution stage)
• Coordinate Engineering Change Notification (ECN) handling from suppliers
• Coordinate FAI's activities

Contribute to site quality continuous improvement program

• Support the site's Quality Continuous Improvement initiatives by contributing to problem-solving, data analysis, and implementation of process improvements.
• Participate in process reviews, internal and external audits, and improvement roadmap activities to identify quality risks and improvement opportunities.
• Contribute to the preparation and execution of Quality Assurance Plans (QAP) by gathering supplier feedback, inspection results, lessons learned, and field quality insights.
• Share and promote good practices identified during inspections, defect investigations, or supplier interactions to improve consistency and prevent quality escapes.
• Capture and transfer Return of Experience (REX) / Lessons Learned to relevant teams to support design improvements and supplier alignment for future projects.
• Support Continuous Improvement activities including root cause analysis (8D, Ishikawa, 5Why), internal training efforts, and quality awareness workshops. Prepare and participate in Process reviews and internal/external audits
• Contribute to Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) in collaboration of SPQD central teams
• Propose good practices
• Ensure the strong integration of Return of Experience (REX) to the SPQD teams for next projects.
• Contribute to Continuous Improvement activities including internal/external audits, root cause investigations, and internal training programs

Supplier Quality Performances

• Maintain supplier scorecards - delivery, PPM, NCR, OTD responsiveness.
• Track defect trends, supplier risk levels, and escalate concerns to Quality leadership.
• Support periodic supplier performance reviews (QBRs).
• Prepare Reports and supplier Quality Reviews for management on top quality issues and action plans including managing the red, yellow status of suppliers with ongoing quality issues
• Set Suppliers Quality Commitments in accordance with Terabase Procurement objectives
• Ensure proper Supplier Quality risk management and deploy dedicated mitigation plans
• Monitor and assess suppliers on overall improvement plans
• Maintain and publish KPIs and identify opportunities for performance improvement
• Increment and lead Return of Experience activities on his/her scope of work
• Ensure the performance of source inspections for low critical purchased parts (non-Supplier Part List components)
• Maintain supplier quality dashboards (Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI).
• Track and report on operational quality risk, supplier trends, and NCR closure rates.
• Provide monthly supplier metrics for Management Reviews.

Performance measurements

• Measurement of Supplier Performance (Non-conformities quantity/trend, areas of detection, red/yellow status management)
• Complete inspections within the allocated target lead time and ensure priority inspections are completed on time
• Monitor Cost of Non-Quality from Suppliers (CONQ) recovery
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation