The Plant Supplier Quality Engineer provides quality engineering services for operational activities at the Milwaukee Tool Mukwonago manufacturing site. Primary duties entail supplier interface for all manufacturing products and processes, including non-conforming supplier materials and services. Provides oversight and direction to incoming inspection program. Provide support to cross functional teams (New Product Development, Continuous Improvement/Value Engineering, and new Supplier selection/qualification).

The Supplier Quality Engineer will work closely with Corporate Supplier Quality, Sourcing and Engineering personnel to communicate quality issues and opportunities with key suppliers based on quality performance, cost objectives, drawing and engineering controls, and process / product requirements. The position will participate in on-site supplier process assessments/audits to assure compliance to product requirements and process documentation. This position will develop action plans and monitor implementation of changes and improvements while also coaching suppliers in the utilization of best practices in manufacturing techniques.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with New Product Development and Sourcing teams to qualify purchased materials and components and establish additional supplier requirements when necessary (i.e. for PPE products)
• Certificates of Conformance
• Lot traceability
• Any applicable Regulatory requirements
• Identify systemic supplier quality issues and drive corrective and preventative actions through:
• data and information collection regarding trends and issues
• data and information collection from assessments and from supply base
• root cause analysis and problem resolution.
• Create non-conformance material records (NCMR) in the QMS and facilitate supplier ownership and resolution.

• Champion Supplier Corrective Actions (SCAR) to ensure effective root cause analysis and implementation in a timely manner.
• Drive resolution of quality issues back to the supplier. This includes customer complaints and non-conformances documented through reports, rating systems, supplier corrective action reporting, or other means of effective resolution of quality issues.

• Compile and report on supplier performance metrics.
• Manage Supplier Quality Documentation and change management.
• Understand the supplier's current capabilities and potential new capabilities and communicate to purchasing, engineering, and quality personnel.
• Participate in supplier audits to ensure that necessary process and quality controls are in place during supplier assessment visits or on-going supplier management assessments.
• Participate in supplier scorecard reviews along with sourcing to assess suppliers on their ability to meet quality and delivery goals.
• Work with supplier to resolves complex problems using Root Cause, 8Ds, Six Sigma and decision matrices.
• Communicates difficult concepts and sensitive topics such as process improvements, changes, material rejections and negotiates with others to effectively influence as appropriate.
• Support site Quality initiatives.

Education and Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in either Quality, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering plus three (3) or more years of related work experience in a Quality role at.
• Experience in Supplier Management through the process of supplier selection, supplier auditing, supplier evaluations, supplier scorecards, supplier development, supplier improvement, and working through supplier exiting Strategies, when necessary.
• Ability to work in a cross functional team and matrix management environment.
• Demonstrated technical aptitude with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interpret process risks and gaps with extended supply chain and sub-tier suppliers and recommend best practices for improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to indirectly lead a group and/or team and provide guidance and influence other employees.
• Proven track record of demonstrating leadership in managing complex, integrated projects.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles.

• Working knowledge of Quality Management Systems to create, track, and document non-conformance records (NCMR), Supplier Corrective Actions (SCAR), and root cause analysis (8D).

• Working knowledge of gauging methods, procedures, software and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing.
• Travel expected ~10% domestically.

Preferred

• Experience in a manufacturing environment
• Experience with ISO-9001, TS16949, or Quality Management System auditing
• Professional society / organizational certification (CQE, CQA)