Supplier Quality Engineer

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