Supplier Quality Engineer

Help grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.

Key Responsibilities

SUPPLIER METRICS AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

Design, implement and maintain a supplier-performance framework combining quality, delivery, responsiveness, cost and risk measures.

Develop supplier scorecards and dashboards using clear definitions, validated data sources, targets, ownership and review cadence.

Track and analyse measures including supplier defect and escape rates, incoming acceptance, first-pass yield, concession and deviation frequency, SCAR closure, repeat issues, on-time delivery, lead-time adherence and cost of poor quality.

Segment suppliers by business criticality, performance and risk to prioritise audits, development activity and escalation.

SUPPLIER ASSURANCE AND IMPROVEMENT

Lead supplier qualification, onboarding and approval using risk-based assessments, audits, capability reviews and evidence of effective quality controls.

Establish supplier quality requirements within contracts, drawings, specifications, control plans, inspection standards and change-notification agreements.

Lead supplier audits and process assessments, evaluating process capability, measurement systems, traceability, capacity, special processes, change control and business-continuity controls.

Manage supplier nonconformities and corrective actions using structured methods such as 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa and fault-tree analysis; verify containment, root cause, corrective action and sustained effectiveness.

Develop and deliver supplier improvement plans focused on defect prevention, process capability, right-first-time manufacture and stable delivery performance.

Escalate persistent or high-risk performance issues and support commercial decisions including development, controlled exit, dual sourcing or replacement.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCE AND CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT

Assess supplier technical capability and identify gaps in process control, inspection, testing, metrology, drawing interpretation, problem-solving and quality-system execution.

Develop internal competence within Procurement, Engineering, Operations and Quality so supplier decisions are technically informed and requirements are consistently applied.

Build reusable standards, checklists, lessons learned and training materials for supplier selection, industrialisation, auditing and issue resolution.

Verify competence through practical application and measurable improvement, rather than training completion alone.

NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTION AND CHANGE CONTROL

Define supplier quality deliverables and approval gates, ensuring specifications, critical characteristics, process controls, capacity and validation evidence are complete before launch.

Coordinate first-article inspection, run-at-rate and production-readiness reviews.

Evaluate supplier-requested changes to materials, processes, tooling, location or sub-tier sources and ensure risks are controlled before implementation.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential: Degree, HNC/HND, technical apprenticeship or equivalent experience in engineering, manufacturing, quality or a relevant technical discipline.

Essential: Demonstrable supplier-quality experience in a manufacturing, engineering or regulated environment.

Essential: Strong working knowledge of supplier qualification, auditing, capability studies, 8D and root-cause methods.

Essential: Ability to develop robust metrics, analyse complex data and convert findings into prioritised actions and measurable business benefits.

Essential: Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, inspection results and manufacturing-process controls.

Essential: Track record of influencing supplier leadership and delivering sustained improvements in quality and delivery.

Desirable: Internal or lead auditor qualification, Lean Six Sigma certification, recognised quality-body membership or experience with sector-specific standards.

Desirable: Experience working with international suppliers and conducting on-site assessments across different cultures and regions.

Core Competencies

Strong analytical judgement and disciplined use of data.

Manufacturing-process knowledge and technical curiosity.

Structured problem-solving with a prevention-focused mindset.

Supplier development, coaching and constructive challenge.

Commercial awareness and understanding of total business impact.

Clear communication, influencing and stakeholder management.

Ability to prioritise risk, manage multiple actions and deliver results.

Willingness to travel to supplier sites as required.

Key Performance Measures

Supplier scorecards established, accurate and reviewed to schedule for all priority suppliers.

Reduction in supplier repeat defects, concessions, incoming rejects and quality escapes.

Improvement in supplier on-time delivery, schedule adherence and lead-time performance.

Reduction in supplier-related production disruptions, premium freight, rework, scrap and total cost of poor quality.

Supplier audits and development plans completed according to risk-based priorities.

Improvement in supplier process capability and successful first-pass approval of new or changed parts.

Demonstrable growth in supplier and internal technical competence against defined capability assessments.

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